\\INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 8\\

In this chapter the apostle proceeds to consider the case of eating
things offered to idols, which, though an indifferent thing, was
abused by many in the Corinthian church, to the scandal and hurt of
weak Christians; wherefore the apostle dissuades from the use of it,
and refutes the arguments which were used by them in defence of their
practice. And the general foundation on which they proceeded being
their knowledge of Christian liberty, he begins with that; and makes
answer to it, by granting, that he, and they, and all had knowledge
in general; and by distinguishing between knowledge and charity, the
one puffing up, and the other edifying: wherefore to argue from the
one, to the disuse of the other, was wrong, \\#1Co 8:1\\ seeing that
kind of knowledge, which was not accompanied with love, was no true
knowledge, \\#1Co 8:2\\ but that was right which had annexed to it
love to God, and our neighbour, \\#1Co 8:3\\ and then applies this
observation to the case of things offered to idols; and explains the
knowledge which some had, and boasted of, that an idol was nothing,
and that there was but one God, \\#1Co 8:4\\ which latter he proves
and confirms, partly by allowing that there were many nominal gods
and lords, both in heaven and earth; but then they were only so by
name, not by nature, \\#1Co 8:5\\ and partly by observing the common
faith of Christians, that there is but one God, and one Lord Jesus,
who are both described by their names and properties, \\#1Co 8:6\\
But now, though there was such knowledge concerning an idol, as
nothing, and things offered to it, as indifferent, in some, this was
not the case of all; who, as their knowledge was small, their
consciences were weak, and were defiled by eating such things through
the example of others, \\#1Co 8:7\\ wherefore it became such who had
greater knowledge to abstain from eating them; partly from the
unprofitableness of such eating to them with respect to divine
acceptance, it making them neither better nor worse, \\#1Co 8:8\\ and
partly from the harmfulness of it to others, it being a
stumblingblock to the weak, which ought not to be laid in their way,
\\#1Co 8:9\\ and emboldening to do so likewise to the injury of their
weak consciences, \\#1Co 8:10\\ and so was to the loss and ruin of
their peace and comfort, which is aggravated by their being brethren,
and such for whom Christ died, \\#1Co 8:11\\. Thus by wounding their
weak consciences, they that drew them into this practice, by their
example, sinned both against their brethren, and Christ himself,
\\#1Co 8:12\\. From all which the apostle concludes, that rather than
offend a weak brother, it was right never to eat any flesh at all;
and this he strengthens by his own example and resolution, \\#1Co 8:13\\.