The Illusion of Knowledge:-
"But concerning the sacrifices to idols, we know that we all have knowledge" (1 Corinthians 8:1). The context, "sacrifices to idols," involves holiday meals that were consecrated by false gods and celebrated by most everyone in the community. These religious and social events provided all of the usual friendship, fellowship and family time together that was and is still enjoyed by people all over the world. Who can argue against the values and virtues of friendship, fellowship and family?
Yet, new Christians in Corinth began to worry that the consecration of the food at such events by what they now understood in the light of Christ to be false gods might be offensive or counterproductive to their new faith in Christ. It's a real concern because all genuine converts gain a new sensitivity about offending Christ and a genuine concern for growing in grace and spiritual maturity. Understandably, people don't want to put stumbling blocks in their own way.
They began asking if it was okay to join in such celebrations because they all had friends and family members who would host such events and would (and did) invite them to attend. No doubt, they had been attending such events for years prior to their conversion, so their sudden absence would be a concern to those friends and family members who expected them to attend. That is the context of this chapter. They were concerned that such events constituted false worship or worship of false gods. In any case it is important to see that worship was the central concern.
The first thing that Paul addressed was "knowledge." No doubt, all the various religious sects and their many philosophies taught some form of knowledge as the first step toward God. We know that the various Gnostics placed such importance upon special or secret knowledge. They taught that worshiping or understanding God required some special knowledge, and apart from that knowledge people were ignorant of things divine.
Note that Paul is still talking about his first consideration regarding the Corinthians -- "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:17-18). Though the words "knowledge" and "wisdom" are different, Paul was still talking about the same subject -- the deceit of worldly wisdom, knowledge or Greek categories of thought.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3122872
Yet, new Christians in Corinth began to worry that the consecration of the food at such events by what they now understood in the light of Christ to be false gods might be offensive or counterproductive to their new faith in Christ. It's a real concern because all genuine converts gain a new sensitivity about offending Christ and a genuine concern for growing in grace and spiritual maturity. Understandably, people don't want to put stumbling blocks in their own way.
They began asking if it was okay to join in such celebrations because they all had friends and family members who would host such events and would (and did) invite them to attend. No doubt, they had been attending such events for years prior to their conversion, so their sudden absence would be a concern to those friends and family members who expected them to attend. That is the context of this chapter. They were concerned that such events constituted false worship or worship of false gods. In any case it is important to see that worship was the central concern.
The first thing that Paul addressed was "knowledge." No doubt, all the various religious sects and their many philosophies taught some form of knowledge as the first step toward God. We know that the various Gnostics placed such importance upon special or secret knowledge. They taught that worshiping or understanding God required some special knowledge, and apart from that knowledge people were ignorant of things divine.
Note that Paul is still talking about his first consideration regarding the Corinthians -- "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:17-18). Though the words "knowledge" and "wisdom" are different, Paul was still talking about the same subject -- the deceit of worldly wisdom, knowledge or Greek categories of thought.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3122872
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