However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. - (1 Co 8:7–13)
THE CONTEXT
In the Roman world, multiple gods and deities were revered, with each city having temples and idols. For example, Corinth boasted the famous temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. At the same time, Ephesus was home to the renowned temple of Artemis, known as Diana in Roman mythology, and this temple happens to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Sacrifices were regularly offered to these and other deities as acts of devotion, seeking their favor and blessings. These rituals typically occurred in temples or public altars as part of religious ceremonies. After the animals were offered as sacrifices, the meat was often distributed through various means, such as selling it in local markets or using it for communal feasts.
The issue the Apostle Paul addressed in his letters, particularly in this passage, was how the Corinthian Christians should respond to meat sacrificed to idols. Some Christian community members in Corinth were concerned about whether they could eat such meat without compromising their faith. So as we already mentioned in this passage, Paul's guidance was aimed at addressing this dilemma.
DYNAMICS WITHIN THE CHURCH
The Corinthian church was a mix of Gentile and Jewish members, leading to several challenges related to cultural, religious, and dietary disparities. These differences included Jewish dietary regulations, such as kosher food practices, which significantly contrasted with the dietary habits of the Gentiles. These distinctions led to tensions, particularly during shared meals and gatherings, and as previously discussed, consuming meat sacrificed to idols was a significant point of contention.
Given its idolatrous associations, it is not unreasonable to assume that Jewish members might have expressed concerns about partaking in such meat. In contrast, Gentile members might not have comprehended or shared these concerns. Alternatively, the situation might have been the reverse, where Jewish Christians, liberated from Jewish dietary laws, felt free to eat the meat since they believed in one true God, while Gentile Christians, who formerly worshiped these very gods to whom the meat was offered, could have struggled with it. In either scenario, a believer eating meat sacrificed to idols could be likened to the struggle of an alcoholic who may face internal conflict upon witnessing another Christian consume something that has caused them personal harm.
For individuals with such struggles, it wouldn't be easy to watch another Christian partake without experiencing a crisis of conscience.
COMPARING JEWISH AND GENTILE ANIMAL SACRIFICES
In Judaism, animal sacrifices were an integral part of religious worship, particularly in the context of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. Jewish sacrifices were offered to the one true God, Yahweh, and were seen as acts of worship, atonement, and dedication. They had specific, prescribed rituals and theological significance related to sin, thanksgiving, and consecration. Jewish sacrifices were offered within the context of a monotheistic faith. Jews believed in worshipping one God, Yahweh, and their sacrifices expressed devotion and obedience to this one deity.
As a side note, we want to remind the reader that while the Old Testament passage is replete with anthropomorphic language that communicates these burnt offerings were a sweet smell to the Lord, God had no pleasure in sacrificing these animals. Consider the following text:
"Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, You had no pleasure. Then I said, "Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God." - Hebrews 10:5-7
The reason for expressing that God took no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin is to emphasize that these rituals, even though they were ordained in the Old Testament, were insufficient to completely absolve sin and establish a lasting connection between God and humanity. Every sacrifice, whether the animals used to provide skins for Adam's covering after his transgression or the lamb offered on the Day of Atonement, served a dual purpose: to reveal the high cost of our selfishness and underscore the necessity of a redeemer because the shedding of animal blood was incapable of genuinely expiating human sin. These temporary rituals functioned as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice that would come through Christ. What's crucial to recognize is that all these sacrifices held a prophetic significance, pointing to the redemptive work of Christ.
Then I said, "Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God." - Hebrews 10:7
In Judaism, the emphasis was on obedience to God's commandments and recognizing one's need for forgiveness and reconciliation. Jewish sacrifices were intended to teach moral and spiritual lessons and reinforce the concept of a covenant between God and the Jewish people. Jewish sacrifices were rooted in the understanding that God provided a means for people to approach Him through prescribed rituals. These sacrifices foreshadowed the concept of atonement and pointed to the need for a perfect sacrifice as a precursor to the Christian concept of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. This was not the case for the pagans.
Within the pagan cults, the ethical and moral significance of idol sacrifices varied depending on the specific beliefs of the culture. The focus was primarily on pleasing the gods and securing personal benefits. Theologically, idol worship was based on a belief in the efficacy of these gods and the need to alleviate or gain favor with them through offerings. In other words, apparently, they accepted brides.
Pagan sacrifices to idols took place in temples or at public altars dedicated to specific deities. The practices were often community events and were common throughout the Roman world. In other words, there were many temples to the same god in different cities. In comparison, the Jewish animal sacrifices were carried out in the Temple in Jerusalem under the guidance of the Jewish priesthood. These sacrifices were specific to Jewish religious practices and were centralized in the Holy Land.
In comparison, the gentile sacrifices to idols were made in a polytheistic context where people believed in multiple gods and deities, each with its domain and power.
APPLICATION
Sacrificing meat to idols was a common religious practice in the Roman world and based on this text, a hot discussion point within the Church, or at least in the church at Corinth. However, after forty-four years of walking with Christ, we can not recall once going to or hearing of a church board meeting held to discuss the hot topic of meat being consumed that was sacrificed to an idol! Yet, still, there are lessons to be learned from this text for us today.
The apostle addressed how early Christians should navigate this practice, emphasizing freedom, love, and conscience while avoiding participation in idolatry. Paul's guidance in these matters sought to maintain the integrity of the Christian faith while respecting the sensitivities of weaker believers and not causing them to stumble. His teachings underscore the importance of ethical and moral decision-making guided by a sense of responsibility toward oneself and others. The principles of freedom, love, and conscience serve as guidelines for navigating contemporary ethical dilemmas. What Paul teaches here encourages Christ's followers to make choices that reflect their values while considering the impact of those choices on the well-being of others. Hmm…Convicting!
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