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Answer
In 1 Corinthians 8:1–13, the apostle Paul addresses a query from the Corinthians concerning meat that had been previously offered to idols. He starts by saying, “Now about food sacrificed to idols: We understand that ‘We all have knowledge.’ However, knowledge inflates while love constructs” «Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. », (1 Corinthians 8:1).
In the first-century Greek society, pagans involved in ritualistic idol worship presented animal meat for burning in temple sacrifices. Only a part of the meat was utilized, and the remnants were commonly sold in the market. The Jerusalem Council had prohibited Christians from consuming such foods «that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. », (Acts 15:29). Nevertheless, a dispute emerged in the church based on each believer’s interpretation of Christian freedom. Many were aware that the meat could not be defiled simply because it had been utilized in a pagan ritual. The temple idols were false deities and had no ability to contaminate the meat. These Christians believed they had the freedom of conscience to consume the meat, which was likely available for purchase at a discounted price.
When Paul mentions, “We all have knowledge” and “An idol is nothing at all in the world,” he seems to be citing phrases from a previous letter composed by the Corinthian leaders «Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. », (1 Corinthians 8:1,4)«As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. », (1 Corinthians 8:1,4). These leaders sought Paul’s counsel to resolve the division. Some believers in the church—likely those delivered from pagan idolatry—were offended by fellow Christians eating meat sacrificed to idols. Paul addresses a similar issue in Romans 14 and 15. The freedom of strong believers regarding dietary laws and holy days was causing offense to weaker Christians.
Paul begins his counsel to the Corinthians with this statement: “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” “Puffs up” is an English translation of the Greek verb physioō, meaning “to make proud, to cause to become conceited, as if to inflate something with air.” The New Living Translation renders this statement, “While knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.”
Previously, Paul remarked on the Corinthians’ superior knowledge: “God has enriched your church in every way—with all your eloquent words and all your knowledge” «that in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; », (1 Corinthians 1:5, NLT). It seems the Corinthians may have become somewhat proud of their intellectual abilities. Paul suggests that knowledge alone was not the solution to the division over food sacrificed to idols. The Corinthians could apply all the sophisticated learning they had acquired to the situation, but that would not be helpful. They needed love.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “Knowledge can be a weapon to fight with or a tool to build with, depending on how it is used. If it ‘puffs up,’ then it cannot ‘build up [edify].’” (The Bible Exposition CoCommentary, vol. 1, Victor Books, 1996, p. 595). If our knowledge is not tempered with love, we are simply conceited, arrogant know-it-alls. Later, Paul elaborates on the concept: “If I could speak all the languages of the earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. . . . If I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge . . . but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3;NLT).
Knowledge must be balanced with love to be impactful and effective (Ephesians 4:15;Philippians 1:9-11). The mature believers, those with the liberty to eat meat, neglected to apply their knowledge with love (1 Corinthians 16:14;Colossians 3:14). Instead of supporting the weaker saints and edifying the church, the mature Christians were only boosting their egos and causing discord.
Christian liberty should always be accompanied by love and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is important to remember that knowledge inflates, while love constructs. A truly mature believer will set aside their intellectual pride and humbly lower themselves «Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. », (Romans 14:1). Instead of humiliating or belittling someone weak in faith with logical arguments, we should come alongside to assist our brother or sister in walking in freedom «Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. ».
, (1 Thessalonians 5:14). We might even have to relinquish our Christian liberties to assist in preventing a weaker brother from stumbling and falling (1 Corinthians 8:9-12; Romans 15:1-3; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:4).
