1 Corinthians: Not in VainSýnishorn

How do you know when you’ve truly understood something? What’s the measure of real knowledge? Is it that we’re able to explain it succinctly, or that we can list a string of Bible verses to back it up? Paul says true knowledge shows itself in love. 

Today we turn to another issue the Corinthians had raised: food sacrificed to idols (v. 4). Religious temples were at the heart of community life in firstcentury Corinth, and this presented a challenge for Christians. To socialise at such places would inevitably involve eating meat that had been killed by priests in the context of a pagan ritual. 

Now, it could be tempting to let our eyes glaze over at this point, as if this surface-level issue will have little relevance to our own lives. And yet like the rest of 1 Corinthians, God’s word is going to address underlying heart attitudes too. In fact, straightaway we’re shown the real issue: the difference between proud knowledge and true knowledge (vv. 1–3). 

It seems Paul is quoting the Corinthians in verse 1; they had been boasting to him of their superior knowledge, which meant they were free to act in particular ways. In this case, it seems the ‘knowledge’ referred to was the belief that it’s legitimate for Christians to eat food sacrificed to idols. And as we see, it’s not that the Corinthians were wrong in their theology. After all, Paul affirms that, though there are many so-called gods in our world, the reality is that there is only one actual God (vv. 5–6), which means that idols are nothing (v. 4). 

But the problem lies in how we relate to those who don’t understand this. Do we employ our knowledge lovingly? Do we protect, build up and encourage other Christians? Some of the local Christians had been converted from a background of idol worship, so for them being encouraged to eat this meat would mean their consciences were defiled (vv. 7–8). In fact, the language is so strong – ‘destroyed’ (v. 11); ‘wound their weak conscience … sin against Christ’ (v. 12) – that it seems it was causing some Christians to fall back into their old pagan lifestyles as a result. The tragedy is that the proud knowledge of some was leading to others falling away.

Reflection

What do you do with your knowledge of the gospel? 

Is it the foundation of your love for others?