Liberty

Liberty

(Gk. exousia) (7:39; 8:9; 9:18; Matt. 7:29; Rom. 9:21) Strong’s #1849

The Greek term usually denotes “right,” “authority,” or even “privilege.” In certain contexts, like this one, it connotes the freedom to exercise one’s right. Specifically, Paul was addressing the Corinthians’ right to eat meat that may have come from pagan temples. To be clear, the eating of sacrificial food—the cultic meals in pagan temples — was censured by Paul because it was understood that the participants in those meals were uniting themselves to demons (see 10:19–21). However, Paul had no problem with those who purchased food that had been leftover from these events and that was later sold in the marketplace. In his judgment, if they ate it at home they were not participating in idolatry. They had the liberty — or right — to eat this food in good conscience. The exception was if they would be destroying a weaker believer by doing so. For the sake of such believers, one should abstain.

Taken from NKJV Study Bible