1 Corinthians 10

[Guest]

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul says:
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.”
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—
29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

In the verses in bold, Paul seems to be contradicting himself. First, in verse 28, he instructs believers to refrain from eating meat when another has mentioned that the meat has been offered to idols.
Then in verses 29-30, he seems to assert that a believer's liberty shouldn't be limited by another's conscience.

Thoughts?

[Guest]

Hi Dave,

I don't necessarily see a contradiction in Paul's statement here. I think Paul is simply instructing believers to make love for others the first priority. So even though it's permissible to eat meat sacrificed to idols, someone might percieve that as a compromise on the believers part. So the most loving thing to do is not eat it so others are not stumbled by it.

Vss. 31-33 seem to give us a clue to what he meant by the statements you highlighted. The person pointing out that the meat was sacrificed to idols is convinced (wrongly) that it's wrong to eat it. Those who know better have no need to feel condemned by such things, but he's saying it's more loving to the uninformed brother to refrain. Therefore, Paul says God is glorified more by giving up our own right to eat it for the sake of those who are offended by it.

I've often heard this verse applied to Christians drinking alcohol in public or in the presence of other Christians as well. Perhaps justifiably so since drinking alcohol is percieved (wrongly) by so many to be a sin in of itself.

Love is "the most excellent way" (1 Cor 12:31 - 13)