While one observes the background of believers in Corinth and the key verse of 1 Corinthians (1:10), it is vivid that there was division among the believers. There was division concerning to leadership (1:12), moral standards (5:1-8), between people who have knowledge and weak, higher class members and lower class members, rich and poor, accusers and accused (6:1-8) and so on. One of the controversial, cultural, ethical and the religious issues which brought division among the believers was the issue of food which was sacrificed to idols.
Regarding to eat idol meat in 1 Corinthian 8:1-11:1, there are different views among the scholars. Some scholars say that Paul had given permission for Christians to eat idol meat in their private houses. Others say that Paul had given full permission for …show more content…
Paul in his opening of argument whether to eat or abstain to eat the food that sacrificed to Idols, compares knowledge and love as the basis of Christian characteristics. He did not deny that Corinthian believers had knowledge concerning the differences between eating food that sacrificed to idols and worshiping idols as well as their having knowledge about the nonentity of the idols. He also indicates that they have freedom either to eat or to abstain from eating the food which is sacrificed to idol. However, the understanding of believers is different from one another and he indicates that their knowledge is limited and love is greater than that knowledge. Gordon D. Fee explained that the foundation of ‘Christian’ behavior is ‘love’ rather than ‘knowledge’ . Fee is right by giving priority for love. Because the internal and the external evidences also assure that love is superior to all kind of knowledge and other spiritual gifts (1Corinthians 13:2: Romans 13:8,
Regarding to eat idol meat in 1 Corinthian 8:1-11:1, there are different views among the scholars. Some scholars say that Paul had given permission for Christians to eat idol meat in their private houses. Others say that Paul had given full permission for …show more content…
Paul in his opening of argument whether to eat or abstain to eat the food that sacrificed to Idols, compares knowledge and love as the basis of Christian characteristics. He did not deny that Corinthian believers had knowledge concerning the differences between eating food that sacrificed to idols and worshiping idols as well as their having knowledge about the nonentity of the idols. He also indicates that they have freedom either to eat or to abstain from eating the food which is sacrificed to idol. However, the understanding of believers is different from one another and he indicates that their knowledge is limited and love is greater than that knowledge. Gordon D. Fee explained that the foundation of ‘Christian’ behavior is ‘love’ rather than ‘knowledge’ . Fee is right by giving priority for love. Because the internal and the external evidences also assure that love is superior to all kind of knowledge and other spiritual gifts (1Corinthians 13:2: Romans 13:8,