Are you familiar with the term, cage stage? This term was coined to describe the overzealous nature of those who first discover a doctrine or ideology. Though they may have the right doctrine, their zeal leads them to be combative and argumentative over any theological disagreement, therefore, it would be better for them to be in a cage for a while, so they do not hurt themselves or others with their new theological sword. Those who are overly zealous, hyper-critical, loud, argumentative, and ungracious would do well to hear Paul’s warning that “knowledge puffs up.”
First Corinthians 8 begins a new section of the letter. Paul addresses an issue these first-century Christians dealt with: eating meat offered to idols, a theme continued through chapter ten. In our American context, this is not an issue we face, as it may be in other parts of the world. However, the heart issues behind the presenting problem of meat offered to idols is relevant for us today.
These chapters deal with disputable matters. There are certain things some Christians will feel free to do, while other Christians will not feel that same sense of freedom. Disputable matters are not fundamental, nor is Christian liberty ever the freedom to sin. In the early church, these issues of conscience often arose around eating and drinking. Jews abstained from certain foods that Gentiles did not, and the New Covenant brought freedom from stipulations under the Old Covenant. Before addressing particulars of food offered to idols, Paul lays down the underlying principle: love God and your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Do you really know? (8:1-3)
Some people respond wrongly to the cage-stager, thinking that the issue is doctrine itself. “Doctrine divides,” they may say. Therefore, they eschew doctrinal precision, as if that is what puffs people up. I propose that this is a misdiagnosis of the problem. Theological convictions—the knowledge—is not the problem. The problem is the person holding it and the pride deeply rooted in their hearts.
The church in Corinth did not lack knowledge, but love. They properly understood that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one” (v. 4). But the danger they faced was using their theological knowledge, not to build up, but to tear down. True knowledge, Paul says, is governed by love. In fact, a person does not really know something if they are not humbled by what they know.
Our knowledge of God–his ways and works–should promote humility. If we are not increasing in humility as we increase in knowledge, we are not learning properly. Knowledge of God forms a certain kind of people, humble people who love God and others.
What we all know (8:4-6)
Knowledge, not regulated by love, puffs up, but that does not mean we should avoid pursuing knowledge. In verses 4-6, Paul unpacks what Christians should know. The theological reality stated in verse 6 is profound: “for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” We should be growing in our knowledge of God as we consider his greatness revealed in Scripture. Indeed, there is a direct correlation between our knowledge of God and our practical godliness (Titus 1:1). It is often quoted, but A.W. Tozer was absolutely right when he said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” The Corinthians had a right understanding of who God was and understood that what others call gods are not gods at all. Why then were there problems in the church?
A failure to apply what we know (8:7-8)
The weak and strong in Corinth failed to apply what they knew to their lives and relationships. “However, not all possess this knowledge,” (v.7). In verse 7, Paul references the weaker believers. They had been worshippers of idols and had not grown to understand that those idols have no real existence, even as they confessed there is only one God.
While the weak must grow to see that idols are nothing, the stronger ones who know idols are nothing must grow to see that they are no better off because they can freely eat. “Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do” (v. 8). These believers who eat must be on guard against an attitude of superiority, for unchecked pride can damage their brothers and sisters in Christ.
What happens when our knowledge is not tempered by love? (9-12)
In Corinth, as in all churches, there are stronger believers. They know who God is and understand they have a right to eat meat offered to idols. But, Paul says, “Take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (v. 9) With many of these disputable matters, there may be freedom, but wisdom and love mean we lay down our rights, because exercising our freedom without thought to our weaker brothers and sisters could do real damage to them. Thereby, we sin not only against them, but against Christ (11-12)!
Knowledge motivated by love (13)
Verse 13 functions as a transition to chapter 9, where Paul will unpack how Christians are to lay down their rights for the sake of the gospel. Those who know God also know that life is not about them or their desires, so they are willing to lay aside freedoms for the sake of others. Paul wants the church to come to this conclusion: “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
At CBC, we want to be people growing in the knowledge of God. But, along with our growth in knowledge, we also want to grow in humility and love. Only then will we truly know something, and love one another as we ought.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9–11