The National tribune., 1889-06-20
MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by q Study OF the Inter
national SundaF-school Lesson Appointed 70
June 30. 1 Cor, S:4-13,

indicated abovel
SUBJECT: ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, MAY
CHRISTIANS EAT OF MEAT OFFERED TO
IDOLS?
/. Preliminary.
Our lesson is from the first epistIe written by
st. Paul Il: u to the Church at Corinth. We
notice how rapidly Christianity spread in its
first years. We hear of it in Europe, Asia, and
Africa. We find the account of the founding of
the Church at Corinth in Acts 10: LII. The
first epistle to the Corinthian Christians ~
was written at Ephesus, Asia Minor in the year
81 A. ID. Notice the occasion of writing. From
different persons Il: III st. Paul heard of the
divisions existing in that Church. The mem
bers quarreled about their ministers and other
church and religious matters. The first six
chapters of the epistle were written in particu-
lar to adjust such difficulties. Meanwhile
letter had been sent from Corinth to st. Paul
with several important questions. n: L. He
proceeds in the seventh chapter and on through
the 18th to the said interrogations.
The disputes at the Church in Corinth were
developments of party spirit. The question in
volved was one often moOted by the Jews as to
their relations with Gentiles, and was likely to
revive as to the relations between Christians
and the heather. It was simply the contro-
versy between the Karaites and Traditionists,
as to what use Jews could properly make of
things formerly used by Gentiles or derived
from them. We have similarly the question:
Can the Church accept moneys gotten from
gambling, liquor selling, etc. The Karaites
would have nothing to do with anything COM
ing from heathenism. The Traditionists asked
no questions Those who wrote to st. Paul may
be regarded as Traditionists, while the consci-
entious of verse Z may be classed as Karaites.
There were two classes of Christians in Cor
inth-one, converted Jews; the other, con-
verified Gentiles. Those of the Gentiles who
we're most cultivated might not have so much
prejudice to the eating of meats left over after
the worship of idols as would their weaker
brethren coming out from idolatry. 1t would
be easier for them to believe in the one God,
and TO dispense with any aids in the form of
idols. Those whose consciences were not boil
stored up with so much knowledge might fear
to risk themselves in old associations and hab-
it's lest they might be led to return to idolatry.
Or, if the weaker ones were not so aware of the
danger the stronger could readily see there
would be possibility Of relapse and it would
be their duty to try by all means to protect the
feebler members of the Church from such
calamity. There would be but little probability
of converted Jews falling into idolatry, since
they inherited utter detestation of everything
idolatrous.
Corinth was the capital of a region of country.
It was located about in the middle of the 18TH
mus bearing the same name. Nine miles east
one-half miles west was the other harbor, to
w.t. Lechaeum. Corinth was about five miles
in circumference. 1t was leading commercial
center. Through its great advantages it be-
came speedily wealthy, luxurious effeminate,
and hence, by degrees, far gone in sin. By its
two ports it connected the east and the west.
1t thus secured imports from all quarters. 1t
was sort of Paris. The principal object of
worship was Venus, and no wonder it became
licentous. AT the same time it was the center
of culture; so much so that Cicero once styled
it the light of all Greece" At later date
Corinth was the capital of Aehaia. Such was
the case in st. Paul's time.
2. The Question.
It Is plain that in their letter to st. Paul "a
letter which has been lost, and one of which we
have no copy they raised this question: Is it
permitted to Christians to eat any meat which
has been offered in sacrifice to idols ?" Idolatry
was very common in Corinth. Habits before
conversion cling to persons even after it, and
require constant opposition and correction.
When q w0rshiper presented the animal to
the priests as a sacrifice three processes took
place: l. The priests took their part. 2. Some
portion was consumed by fire on the altar. 3.
A goodly quantity was handed back to the de-
votee. The people took their parts home and
often made feast therefrom. Now, it became
a famous question of casuistry, whether or not q
CnFiSElan COufu PROMISE uIlQSCll ny dCC6pb-
ing an invitation to such an entertainment. The
meat eaten had been offered to idols. Would not
Christian compromise his religion. which was
one teaching monotheism, filed with deEunci-
atoms of systems which ignore the One-God, if
he sat at table on the occasion of banquet one
object OF which was to magnify the idoP Itisevi-
dent the Corinthian Christians could not settle
this question. Some of the Church claimed that
such eating was not at all out of the way; others
hall che vun
wrote to st. Paul took the side that it was not
improper to eat meats which had been offered
to idols, and they took pains in their letter to
argue the question. We notice ST. Paul quotes
the reasons which they assigned, and tries to
show them insufficient. We are not always to
consider alone what is right, but what Is expo
dent; not what is just, but what is eharitable;
not our own strength, but others weakness. 1t
required some courage on the part of St Paul
to take a position opposite to the majority, and
in defense of the feeble as to will power.
There may have been spirit of selfshness
in the wish of certain ones to eat the flesh of
animals which had been offered at the heather
temples. A large portion of such meat belonged
to the priests, who had it in such large guam
titles as to make it necessary TO open sale-rooms
for it. Such meat, though perfectly good, would
doubtless sell at a great reduction in price. At
the same time, where so many animals were
needed for sacrifice, they would be expensive.
Hence it would be quite an object to buy the
meat not injured, but simply presented sacrii-
cially in pagan temples to heather gods. A
little financial advantage may have bearing
even on a theologic question. To get an article
cheap would be more of an object than would
be the prevention of any hard feeling among
brethren the possibility of spiritual harm to a
fellow Christian.
g. The argument.
The entire eighth chapter is q unit of
thought}and had better be considered in its en-
tirety.
ST. Paul had noticed the various reports
which he had heard in regard to the divisions
in the Church at Corinth. In the letter to him
from Corinth some questions were asked about
matrimonial relations. Those st. Paul exam
ined in the seventh chapter.
Beginning chapter eighth, he practically
says: "Now we are ready to consider your
question as to the eating of meat left over after
sacrificing TO idols"
The persons who wrote the letter argue in
favor of their position to w.t. it is right to eat
such meat. They say: eve see through all
this. (Y. L. We are not SO lacking in COM
mon sense as not to be able to distinguish be-
tween the eating of certain meats and the wor-
ship of idols. An idol is nothing. (Y. ~
There is only one God anyway. There are
things which are called gods. (V 5) There
is no danger of our becoming idolaters."
st. Paul replies: Charity is more desira-
bic quality than knowledge. A man may be
ever SO well informed and yet be heartless, in
considerate yea, even wicked. Love (this word
is to be preferred to charity, as not being am
biguousl is edifying, unifying. 1t builds up,