1Cor 8:1-3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 8:1: 8:1–11:1 Paul now addresses the Corinthians’ question about food that has been offered to idols: Throughout the Greco-Roman world, there were temples and shrines dedicated to pagan gods. It was common for worshipers of those gods to offer animal sacrifices, and the excess meat was then sold in the market by pagan priests. The question inevitably arose as to whether Christians were free to eat such meat. Is meat taken from an animal that has been sacrificed to a pagan god inherently defiled? Paul makes no mention here of the prohibition made by the Jewish Christian leaders in Acts 15:20 , 29 but emphasizes that one’s actions must be governed, above all, by loving consideration of others. After introducing the topic (1 Cor 8:1-13 ), he provides several illustrations of the principle of giving up one’s rights for the sake of others (9:1-27 ) and then gives his advice on three specific situations in which believers faced this issue. 8:1 “We all have knowledge” was apparently a common saying of the Corinthian Christians. The knowledge in question is religious knowledge, paraded by certain Christians who might have felt their superior understanding made them unaccountable to the opinions of others.

a8:1–11:1►

bActs 15:20►

c29►

d1 Cor 8:1-13►

e9:1-27►

f8:1►

g8:2-3►

h13:12►

iGal 4:9►

‏ 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Summary for 1Cor 8:1: 8:1–11:1 ^a Paul now addresses the Corinthians’ question about food that has been offered to idols: Throughout the Greco-Roman world, there were temples and shrines dedicated to pagan gods. It was common for worshipers of those gods to offer animal sacrifices, and the excess meat was then sold in the market by pagan priests. The question inevitably arose as to whether Christians were free to eat such meat. Is meat taken from an animal that has been sacrificed to a pagan god inherently defiled? Paul makes no mention here of the prohibition made by the Jewish Christian leaders in Acts 15:20 ^b, 29 ^c but emphasizes that one’s actions must be governed, above all, by loving consideration of others. After introducing the topic (1 Cor 8:1-13 ^d), he provides several illustrations of the principle of giving up one’s rights for the sake of others (9:1-27 ^e) and then gives his advice on three specific situations in which believers faced this issue. 8:1 ^f “We all have knowledge” was apparently a common saying of the Corinthian Christians. The knowledge in question is religious knowledge, paraded by certain Christians who might have felt their superior understanding made them unaccountable to the opinions of others.
Summary for 1Cor 8:2-3: 8:2-3 ^g It is those who truly love God—not just those who know all the answers—who are acknowledged by God as his own (see 13:12 ^h; Gal 4:9 ⁱ).