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| 1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. |
Offered unto idols – Nearly all meat used in those times was first offered to idols. R3145:1
All have knowledge – That since an idol is nothing, meat offered to an idol cannot in any sense of the word be injured. R3144:3, 5412:2
Knowledge puffeth up – Knowledge alone. R2219:6
A comparatively little knowledge might puff one up greatly without any solidity of character. R3145:1
Knowledge alone without self-submission to God would incline to puff us up, to make us heady, arrogant, self-sufficient. R2198:3, 2219:6
The Lord's object in providing us with the knowledge is that thereby we might grow in grace. We must have knowledge as the basis for love. R4042:3, 5479:3, 2198:3
We could not have any love if we did not have some knowledge; because how could you love that of which you knew nothing? CR149:6
But charity – Greek: agape, disinterested love. R2807:5
We must have love as the outgrowth of the knowledge, if we would be acceptable as members of the elect Church. R4042:5, 2198:3
Love would forbid the use of knowledge and liberty if it perceived that their exercise might work injury to another. R3145:2,6, 2198:5, 1587:4
Edifieth – Builds up. R1587:4, 2219:6
The getting of love is sure to build us up substantially (avoiding the inflation or pride) in all the various graces of the spirit. R3145:2, 2219:6
If knowledge be accompanied by a love to God, which leads to self-consecration in his service, it will work good for us by introducing the spirit of love as the controlling factor in our lives. R2198:3
Love is constructive and builds up our own characters after the divine pattern, making us co-workers together with God, in our sympathies for and interest in others. R2198:3
Measure oneself by growth in love, rather than by growth merely in knowledge. R3145:1
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| 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. |
Think – Confidently think. E256
Knoweth anything – Of his own wisdom. E256
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| 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. |
Love God – Knowledge without love would be an injury. To consider it otherwise would imply that real knowledge has not yet been secured. R4920:2
Is known of him – Acquainted with him, recognized by him. R3145:2
God's special love and provision for his saints as distinguished from the world. R1254:5
We might have a great deal of knowledge and yet not know God and not be known or recognized by him. R4920:2
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| 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. |
Eating of those – It was the custom to eat consecrated food--meat that had been offered before an idol. R2198:3, 2158:6, 2119:1, 1586:3
An idol is nothing – It is only an imaginary god. R1587:1, 1052:3*
The meat could be neither benefited nor injured by the offering. R3020:4, 4478:3, 3145:1, 2198:5, 2158:6, 2119:1
The personal liberty question alone would be in dispute for there was no law given on this matter except the law of love. R4006:3
Is none other God – No other eternal and almighty author and source of all things. E54
But one – Not two, nor three, nor more. E54
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| 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) |
Though there be – Many. R1410:6
Those. R1052:2*
Are called gods – Greek: theos, a mighty one, not Jehovah. B274; R803:1
There be gods many – To the heathen. SM483:2
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| 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. |
To us – Christians. R3474:6
There is but one God – One supreme God. E82; NS255:6
Not three! R4165:2, 2199:4, 1411:1; SM602:T
The word god signifies mighty one; but there is only one God whose name is the Almighty. R5352:1, 3474:6, 1410:6
The Father – One God over all. R1410:6; HG410:6
Jehovah is the fountain of our blessings. R1410:4, 5392:4, 2465:1
A father is a life-giver; a son is one who receives life from a father. This distinction implies that the father existed first. R5747:3; E143
Of whom – Out of whom. E82
Who created. R369:3
Of or from whom, as the first cause or Creator, all things came, including ourselves. R3145:3, 1778:3; E82, E398
The entire plan of salvation is of the Father and through the Son. R5847:4, 5809:3, 3172:3, 1778:3; E54, F401
Are all things – Blessings. E45; R1410:4, 5392:4, 1777:6
Including all life on every plane. E398
The various features of our salvation. R1778:3, 1269:5
It is by our willing and our running that we obtain the prize; but it is of God's mercy. R2001:1
And we in him – And we for him. E82
Unto him. R1052:2*
Lord – Master, Rabbi. OV114:3
Jesus Christ – The channel of blessings. R5392:4, 1410:4
The only direct creation of Jehovah. R1060:4, 5992:6, 5748:1, 4051:6, 2431:3, 1278:3, 446:5*
The Head of the Church. R1278:3
The Lord Jesus is not the second person of a triune God. The word "triune" is unscriptural; so is the thought. R5748:3, 1411:1, 802:5; SM494:3; NS257:6
By whom – By, or through whom all things, including ourselves, have been brought into existence. R3145:3, 5748:1, 4051:6, 1060:4, 1052:2*; E82
The power was of the Father, but it was exercised through the Son. R4107:3
Jesus was the Father's honored agent. R5748:2, 4107:3, 2464:6, 2199:5, 1061:4, 446:5*; HG297:2
Every divine favor is granted in and through Christ. R965:2
"All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:3) R1904:6, 5748:1, 2431:3, 2199:5, 1278:3, 369:5; OV114:3
The Father bestowed the holy Spirit upon the Son, and authorized him to bestow it upon his Body. R5549:5, 5537:1
Are all things – Including the creation of the angels. R5748:5, 4051:6
Including the judgment of the Church. F401
And we by him – And we through him. E82; R1052:2*, 715:4*
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| 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. |
Not in every man – By reason of differing conditions of mental strength, perception, reasoning faculties, etc., all could not have exactly the same standpoint of knowledge and appreciation of principles. R3145:2
All men were not enlightened by the gospel and so relieved from superstition. R1587:1
Of the idol – The appreciation of idols as gods had become so ingrained that it would be impossible for many fully to divest themselves of some respect for the idols--to eat meat that had been offered to idols. R3145:2
Conscience – The voice of conscience must be obeyed. Every violation is so much of character destruction, no matter how erroneous may be its standards. R3020:4, 3144:6
Being weak – We should deny self rather than injure the conscience of another. R5412:2
Is defiled – The eating of such meats in the presence of a weak ones might seem to them to be an endorsement of the idol worship; and thus they might be misled into a partial endorsement of idolatry. R1587:1
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| 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. |
Commendeth us not – It is not the food that we eat that makes us acceptable to God. Our relationship to God is that of the new creation, a heart relationship. R3145:4; HG368:2
Are we the worse – There would be nothing wrong--no sacrifice of any principle. R1587:1
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| 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. |
Liberty of yours – Control your liberty by the law of love. R4478:6, 3145:2
The liberty of Christ gives liberty to eat without restraint, in a manner that the Jews were not at liberty to eat, it gives liberty also to abstain; sacrificing on behalf of the brethren. R3145:5, 2198:5, 1473:1
Stumblingblock – It is a serious crime against the law of love to cause one of our brethren to stumble. R3145:6, 5412:3
Abstain altogether from eating meat rather than risk stumbling a brother who could not take the broader, truer view. To stumble such a one, might be to throw him out of the right way entirely. R5412:2
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| 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; |
Idol's temple – Some Corinthian brethren might be fully at ease in their own consciences if as guests they attended a municipal feast or banquet in an idol temple, but there might be onlookers with less knowledge. R2198:6, 3145:1
We do not feel such a restraint that we would fear to enter a nominal church building to hear a service there; but would not seem to give our assent to their errors by regular attendance and participation. R3146:4
Weak – Of weaker mind, feebler reasoning powers or inferior knowledge; likely to be weaker in every respect. R3145:5, 4920:4
Be emboldened – Follow the example of his stronger brother. R3145:5, 2198:6
Susceptible to the leadings of others, into paths which his conscience could not approve. R3145:5, 4920:4
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| 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? |
Thy knowledge – Intelligence, poise of mind. R5412:3
Weak – Greek: astheneo, without strength. R4099:6*
Brother – A term of general salutation in the early Church. F230; R1523:5
We certainly should have special patience with the brethren. R3136:3
Perish – To stumble such a one might be to throw him out of the right way entirely. R5412:2, 4920:5, 3145:5
If one should be influenced by another to violate conscience, one might thus be started on the downward course which would lead him from righteousness. R4831:1, 2198:6
Every violation of conscience, whether the thing itself be right or wrong, is a step in the direction of wilful sin, leading into grosser transgressions of conscience, and possibly to the second death. R3145:5, 4920:5, 3020:4
For whom Christ died – It would be a sin against the spirit of love to do anything which could reasonably prove a cause of stumbling to our brother, or fellow-creature--for Christ died for the sins of the whole world. R3145:6, 4920:5
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| 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. |
When ye sin so – Some perceived that there could be no sin in the eating of such meat where their consciences were not violated; perhaps to show not only their Christian liberty, but that they entirely disregarded an idol. R3144:6
Wound their weak conscience – If a Christian could take the position that his own conscience would approve of a certain course, then would he allow his poise of mind, to work injury to a brother, to lead him to violate his conscience? R5412:3
Sin against Christ – Against the very spirit of his law of love one for the other. R2199:1
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| 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh until the age ends, lest I make my brother to offend. |
I will eat no flesh – In order that he might be a help to the brethren, and not a stumbling block to any, the Apostle would take pleasure in denying himself, not only the meat offered to idols, but all meat of every kind. R2199:1, 1587:4
Similar arguments might be urged respecting the use of liquor, tobacco, cards and the various implements which the Adversary uses in luring mankind into sin. R3146:5, 2199:1, 1695:6, 1101:5
Any liberty of ours that would work our brother's injury, that liberty we will not exercise. (Rom. 14:21) R4920:5, 5412:2, 4833:5*, 3145:6, 2198:5, 1101:5
Let our light so shine before men as to assist them to glorify their Father in heaven. R4191:5
While the world standeth – Forevermore. (Revised Version) R4920:6
As long as Paul lived. R2199:1
To offend – To stumble. (Revised Version) R4920:6
Lose all influence for good over a brother. R5412:3
Any liberty of ours, however reasonable in itself, that would work our brother's injury, we will not exercise; we will sacrifice it; we will to that extent lay down our life for him. R3145:6, 4920:5
This is not meaning that the Lord's people are to favor the mental crochets of each other in such a manner as would be to the general injury of the Church. R3146:2
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