Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 8:1

"Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth." — 1 Corinthians 8:1 (ASV)

With the phrase “Now about,” Paul turns to another question asked by the Corinthian delegation (cf. introductory comment on 7:1–14:40). The importance of the question of “foods offered in sacrifice to idols” becomes evident when one realizes how thoroughly idolatry and pagan sacrifices permeated all levels of Greek and Roman society. In Corinth itself, there were no less than sixteen temples and shrines, some of which had dining rooms in them.

Indeed, people could hardly escape contact with the pagan practices and their influence. The meat offered on the heathen altars was usually divided into three portions: one portion was burned up, a second given to the priest, and the third given to the offerer. If the priest did not use his portion, it was taken to the meat market. Thus a considerable amount of sacrificed meat ended up in the public market, on the tables of pagan neighbors and friends, or at the pagan festivals. With such idolatry and other pagan practices dominating the life and culture of Corinth, no wonder Paul was so concerned how Christians exercised their freedom to eat meat sold in butcher shops after it had been offered to some idol and consecrated in pagan worship in the city. They faced questions such as these: Was the meat spiritually contaminated? Did the pagan god actually have an effect on the meat? Even if one did not think so, what would one’s participation do to a fellow Christian who might have scruples about this? Though Christians today do not have to deal with this particular problem, they too must face questions of how to conduct themselves in a non-Christian society.

In v.1 Paul concedes that all Christians know—at least theoretically—the real meaning about the meat sacrificed to idols. But, he implies, there is something more—some may really feel that there is something wrong with that meat (v.7). So he adds that the mere knowledge that there is nothing wrong with it inflates one to a level of false security and indifference. As a result, in dealing with this issue, love is necessary. Love takes one beyond himself to aid another; it builds up.