In this chapter another subject is discussed, which had been proposed by the congregation at Corinth for the decision of the apostle. "Whether it was right for Christians to partake of the meat that had been offered in sacrifice to idols?" On this question there would be doubtless a difference of opinion among the Corinthian Christians. When those sacrifices were made to pagan gods, a part of the animal was given to the priest that officiated, a part was consumed on the altar, and a part (probably the principal part) was the property of him who offered it. This part was either eaten by him at home, as food which had been in some sense consecrated or blessed by having been offered to an idol; or it was partaken of at a feast in honor of the idol; or it was in some instances exposed for sale in the market in the same way as other meat. Whether, therefore, it would be right to partake of that food, either when invited to the house of a pagan friend, or when it was exposed for sale in the market, was a question which could not but present itself to a conscientious Christian. The objection to partaking of it would be, that to partake of it either in the temples or at the feasts of their pagan neighbors, would be to lend their countenance to idolatry. On the other hand, there were many who supposed that it was always lawful, and that the scruples of their brethren were needless. Some of their arguments Paul has alluded to in the course of the chapter: they were, that an idol was nothing in the world; that there was but one God, and that everyone must know this; and that, therefore, there was no danger that any worshipper of the, true God could be led into the absurdities of idolatry, 1-Corinthians 8:4-6. To this the apostle replies, that though there might be this knowledge, yet:
(1) Knowledge sometimes puffed up, and made us proud, and that we should be careful lest it should lead us astray by our vain self-confidence, 1-Corinthians 8:1-2, 1-Corinthians 8:7.
(2) that all had not that knowledge 1-Corinthians 8:7; and that they even then, notwithstanding all the light which had been shed around them by Christianity, and notwithstanding the absurdity of idolatry, still regarded an idol as a real existence, as a god, and worshipped it as such; and that it would be highly improper to countenance in any way that idea. He left the inference, therefore, that it was not proper "from this argument," to partake of the sacrifices to idols.
A second argument in favor of partaking of that food is alluded to in 1-Corinthians 8:8, to wit, that it must be in itself a matter of indifference; that it could make no difference before God, where all depended on moral purity and holiness of heart, whether a man had eaten meat or not; that we were really no better or worse for it; and that, therefore, it was proper to partake of that food. To this Paul replies:
(1) That though this was true, as an abstract proposition, yet it might be the occasion of leading others into sin 1-Corinthians 8:9.
(2) that the effect on a weak brother would be to lead him to suppose that an idol was something, and to confirm him in his supposition that an idol should have some regard, and be worshipped in the temple, 1-Corinthians 8:10.
(3) that the consequence might be, that a Christian of little information and experience might be drawn away and perish, 1-Corinthians 8:11.
(4) that this would be to sin against Christ, if a feeble Christian should be thus destroyed, 1-Corinthians 8:12. And,
(5) That as for himself, if indulgence in meat was in any way the occasion of making another sin, he would eat no meat as long as the world stood 1-Corinthians 8:13; since to abstain from meat was a far less evil than the injury or destruction of an immortal soul.

The question of the Corinthians concerning meats offered to idols, and the apostle's preface to his instructions on that head, 1-Corinthians 8:1-3. The nature of idolatry, 1-Corinthians 8:4, 1-Corinthians 8:5. Of genuine worship, 1-Corinthians 8:6. Some ate of the animals that had been offered to idols knowingly, and so defiled their conscience, 1-Corinthians 8:7. Neither eating nor abstinence in themselves recommend us to God, 1-Corinthians 8:8. But no man should use his Christian liberty so as to put a stumbling block before a brother, 1-Corinthians 8:9, 1-Corinthians 8:10. If he act otherwise, he may be the means of a brother's destruction, 1-Corinthians 8:11. Those who act so as to wound the tender conscience of a brother, sin against Christ, 1-Corinthians 8:12. The apostle's resolution on this head, 1-Corinthians 8:13.

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, 1-Corinthians 8:1 seeing that kind of knowledge, which was not accompanied with love, was no true knowledge, 1-Corinthians 8:2 but that was right which had annexed to it love to God, and our neighbour, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 8:9 and emboldening to do so likewise to the injury of their weak consciences, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 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, 1-Corinthians 8:13.

(1-Corinthians 8:1-6) The danger of having a high conceit of knowledge.
(1-Corinthians 8:7-13) The mischief of offending weak brethren.

SUMMARY.--Meat Offered in Idol Temples. Not Changed Because So Offered. But Not to Be Eaten Because of Weaker Brethren. Those Having Knowledge Must Acts in Love.