June 27, 2010 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS (26)
Managing Knowledge
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
a.
Vs. 1 –
Concerning things offered to idols.
Paul here switches directions and it is clear that inquiries had
been made to him. He
addresses idolatry.
b.
Idolatry
in Corinth – an understanding of idolatrous practices in Corinth during
the first century is helpful in understanding the background of this
text.
Corinth, like many other prominent Greek cities, was known for its many
gods and temples, both Hellenistic and Roman.
Not only were temples of the gods places of worship, they were
also places of social gatherings with dining halls that would be used
for weddings, honoring heroes, military victories, etc.
Many of the meat markets in the cities were associated with these
temples and their ceremonies and festivals.
It was not uncommon for the first portion of an animal sacrifice to be
offered to some so-called god and the rest then eaten in banquets or
taken to the market and sold to those of the city who could afford it
(bear in mind that meat was a luxury which the poor would only eat
rarely – such as on the public occasions mentioned above or by being
invited to some more affluent friend’s home, who was a pagan, for a meal
– so they might not have opportunity to eat much meat except a few times
a year). Jews wanted nothing to
do with such meats and the IVP Bible Background Commentary notes
in cities with larger Jewish populations normally had their own markets.
(Major consultation from Bible Study Textbook Series, 1
Corinthians, Butler, College Press, pp. 148-151).
c.
Converts
to Christ, both Gentile and Jew, would be presented with the dilemma of
what to do with eating such meats.
Understanding that there IS only one God, what was the big deal
if they ate meat to fill a hungry stomach, regardless of it’s source,
since you can’t insult something that doesn’t exist (i.e. a god)?
But the questions of influence, reminders of former lifestyles
and doubt would challenge the conscience of some.
While some had “matured” to a point that they could buy and eat
these meats without any mental reservations, there were others who
either struggled with the question OR they strongly condemned anything
to do with these meats.
This provided yet another source of
factions between the brethren at Corinth.
And for the “weak” of conscience, they were put into dilemmas
concerning their convictions and doubts.
d.
I suspect
that in writing Paul, the brethren wanted a clear answer as to whether
or not they could eat these meats.
I also sense an air of arrogance, possibly on both sides of the
issue, where they knew Paul (and God) would side with them and condemn
their opponents on this issue.
THEY WERE WRONG!
While Paul DOES answer the question, he more strongly clarifies the need
for compassion toward our brethren OVER our own personal convictions.
e.
Today we
will begin studying these things.
Paul addresses this in chapters 8-10.
a.
Knowledge is necessary –
we need knowledge and hopefully we will reach a point of maturity where
our knowledge will give us confidence in matters such as those in this
text.
Romans 14:22 says, “Do you have
faith? Have it to yourself
before God. Happy is he who
does not condemn himself in what he approves.”
Contrary to what many say, Ignorance is NOT bliss (Acts 17:30-31).
We should seek to know as perfectly as we can all of God’s
instructions. (2 Tim. 2:15,
Acts 17:11, Eph. 5:17, 4:13-15, etc.)
AND, there is something to be said about trying to convince others of
your convictions – (1 Peter 3:15, Acts 18:4, 19 – where Paul reasoned in
the synagogues, 2 Cor. 5:11 – knowing the terror of the Lord, we
persuade men, Jude 3; etc.) - BUT WATCH your attitude!
b.
Knowledge puff up -
With knowledge comes responsibility and accountability.
NOT only will we answer for what we know and how we respond to
our knowledge, our attitude is just as important.
i.
We
cannot act with arrogance – a
danger associated with knowledge is an air of superiority.
Our society puts a high premium on knowledge and those who have
it. And we are not
just talking about knowledge to do your job (such is an absolute
necessity – I don’t want a doctor operating on me unless he has lots of
knowledge and experience), but academia.
And quite often knowledge goes to
one’s head so that he thinks he is better than someone else and develops
an elitist attitude. Many of
the problems Christians face while pursuing a degree in college (and
even in some high schools) is intellectual arrogance that has explained
away the existence of God and the humble, Christian disposition as well
as defended many of the ungodly practices so prevalent in our society
today.
Arrogance is clearly and always condemned in scripture –
Romans 12:3 – do not think more highly of yourself than you ought to
think;
Rom. 12:16, “Be of the same mind
toward one another. Do not
set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own opinion.”
James 4:6 – God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble;
Gal. 6:3, “For if anyone thinks
himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
Proverbs 26:12 says, “Do you see a
man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
ii.
Religious arrogance – even
sadder is when religious knowledge leads to religious arrogance.
THIS is what Paul is talking about here.
He is actually revisiting his initial concerns as he contrasted
the wisdom of man with the wisdom of God.
Here is the attitude that “I know more than you so you need to
respect me and follow me.”
1.
I am
reminded of the Pharisee who went to the temple to pray and said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.”
Luke 18:11,12. Vs. 14
describes his rejection and calls for humility.
2.
I am
reminded of the Jewish leaders who constantly criticized Jesus and His
apostles. Acts 4:13 speaks
of the Jewish leaders examining Peter and John in the infancy of the
church. “Now
when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that at they
were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.”
John 7, during the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus goes to Jerusalem and is
teaching in the midst of the feast.
Vs. 15 says, “And the Jews marveled, saying, ‘How does this Man
know letters, having never studied?”;
Later in the chapter, speaking of the crowds following Jesus and
the temple guard that failed to arrest Jesus because of the crowd they
said, “Are you deceived?
Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?
But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” (47-49).
Then when Nicodemus called for a fair hearing, “They
answered and said to him, ‘Are you also from Galilee?
Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.’”
(51-52)
3.
3 John 9
describes Diotrophes whom I suspect possessed some of this religious
arrogance.
4.
TODAY: I
am reminded of one who looks down on the newborn in Christ or even one’s
equal (time and age wise) who simply does not know as much (or doesn’t
let on) with a condescending attitude.
5.
TODAY: I
am reminded of the one who refuses to heed the teachings of a young
preacher (like Timothy) because he is “wet behind the ears”, etc.
6.
TODAY: I
am reminded of the young preacher fresh out of some university with a
degree in Bible languages and theology who thinks he knows more than a
seasoned Christian who has lived it all his life, or perhaps even the
elders of the congregation.
7.
Isaiah
5:21, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their
own sight.”
Isaiah 47:10, “For you have
trusted in your wickedness; You have said, ‘No one sees me’;
Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said
in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’”
iii.
Note also
1 Timothy 1:5-7, 6:3-4 which describes the proud rejecter of truth.
iv.
Friends:
We need to guard against such an attitude with our knowledge.
In verse 2 of our text Paul said,
“And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he
ought to know.”
c.
Love edifies –
i.
We cannot
neglect the needs and feelings of our brethren in our knowledge and
actions. We need to possess
attitudes which will build our brethren up and draw us closer together.
ii.
Paul tells
us that TRUE Christian love edifies.
Paul will deal more with love in chapter 13.
In that text we find how this love behaves toward one another.
Let us read 13:1-8a.
Ephesians 4:16 speaks of everyone doing their part producing this love
and growth.
Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no one
anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has
fulfilled the law.”
iii.
The
challenge of knowledge is not just to avoid arrogance, but also to
properly use it and share it with our brethren.
iv.
The
difference between arrogant knowledge and edifying love is this:
Arrogant knowledge belittles those with less to make oneself superior,
but edifying love humbles oneself to make others his equal.
With humility it seeks to UNDERSTAND others to promote unity and
the cause rather than themselves.
“Love without knowledge leads to moral catastrophe. Knowledge is
necessary to determine within what limits we may rightly act; love
determines what within the limits of the" lawful" we should choose.” (W.E.
Hurndall, Biblical Illustrator)
d.
God
knows of your love (3)
i.
This verse
offers a KEY principle to the way we treat each other as brethren:
How much do we love God? Everything else in the following chapters
dealing with our liberties and our response to the conscience of our
brethren hinges on whether or not we really love God as we ought to!
We are reminded that loving God is so much more than knowing about Him
and doing His will. This
speaks of seeking to understand Him and directing our lives to serving
Him because we WANT TO please Him, rather than out of fear.
1 John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.
ii.
When we
love God:
1.
We will
obey Him – 1 John 5:3 says, “For
this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.
And His commandments are not burdensome.”
2.
We will
love our brethren – 1 John 5:2, “By
this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep
His commandments.”
1 John 4:21 says, “And
this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his
brother also.”
It is the “new commandment I give to you…” John 13:34-35.
iii.
This
one is known by Him – this
expression tells us that God knows us – those that belong to Him.
1.
Matthew
7:21-23 – those who fail to obey will NOT be known by our Lord!
2.
When we
love God, He knows us.
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My
word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our
home with him.” (John 14:23)
2 Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless
the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows
those who are Him,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Jesus
depart from iniquity.’”
3.
This MUST
be a goal that we seek – to be known of God!
There is NOTHING more important that being known by God.
One point I see in this is that we must realize that in the end
God will be the one who judges us (Rom. 14:10-12, 2 Cor. 5:10), and NOT
man! Seek to please God,
whether man approves of you or not.
And thus we can see the importance of knowledge AND love when it
comes to the way we treat each other as brethren.
There are matters of conscience, which we will discuss in future
lessons, that challenge us as brethren.
My we think about each other and the good of the body and the
glorification of God as we consider what we can do.
Think about it.