1 Corinthians 8:7-13
7 “However, not all people have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Now food will not bring us close to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this [f]freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge the one who is weak is ruined, the brother or sister for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin.”
Defiled: Christians often quickly apply this to issues such as drinking alcohol and smoking, but Paul is not addressing this level of conscience. Paul is directly addressing meat that was associated with satanic worship.
Stumbling block to the weak: Paul is addressing the weakness of Christians who live by rules and regulations. For Paul, this is the weaker person not the stronger person. The more mature believer will understand their freedom in Christ and therefore not be guided by rules. The mature believer can be sensitive to the weak, but Paul never encourages believers to give up their freedom. Instead, he appeals to their love for others who have a question of conscience.
Who has knowledge: Those who have weak consciences may be offended by believers eating meat sacrificed to idols. This is not about God’s objective view of meat sacrificed to idols but rather the weaker brother who has talked himself into believing that such an action is an offense. Such a person does not have the true knowledge of freedom in Christ and in context may not even be saved.
For whose sake Christ died: Paul may have in mind a Christian brother, or he may be using brother in the sense of a fellow human. Either way, Paul is encouraging mature believers to be conscious of the weaknesses of others and to not taunt those who are weaker. This is a sin not only against the person but against Christ.
I will never eat meat again: Paul has in mind love. His point is not avoiding meat in its entirely. Paul is speaking in hyperbole. He would give up anything to save people for Christ.
