The National tribune., 1893-10-19
INTRODUCTION.

at is like good chart, which has every
thing on it that mariner in any seas may
| need. Its truths never wear out. Says one
who has been deep student of it, The Bible
will bear thousand readings, and the man
who has gone over 1t the most frequently and
carefully is the surest Of finding new wonders
there"
Each scholar might we'll learn by heart what
Sir Matthew Hale said of the Holy Scripture:
1T is book full of life and wisdom; it will
make you wise to eternal life, and furnish you
with directions and principles to guide and
order your life safely and prudently. There is
no book like the Bible for excellent learning,
wisdom, and use."
The First Epistle to the Corinthians.
n was written at Ephesus A. ID. IS, by st.
Paul, occasioned by the divisions on doctrines
and practices in the Church there. Is is in the
| order of our Bible the second epistle of st.
Paul; cbronologically, it is the third 1t was
in reply to communication received by st.
Paa| from Cornth. Il Cor, 7:1)
same have divided the Epistle into seven
parts:
l. Introduction. 1 1-9.
2. On discussions. 1:9 to end OF chapter a.
3. Stepmother marriage. Chapters ST.
4. Meats and idolatry. Chapters $40
5. Ecclesiastic details. Chapters lila.
6. The resurrection of the dead. Chapter Is.
z. Miscellaneous. Chapter Is.
COriRth
The city of Corinth was founded by Sisyphus,
and then called Ephyra. Cornthus was the
son of classic deity. He added very much to
the richness, size, and beauty of the city, and
gave it his name. Even in early times its geo.
graphic position gave it great prominence as a
commercial center. This the secret of its
vast wealth, and that in turn led to ease, with
all the vices of luxury. Many foreigners were
induced to visit it. The Isthmean games drew
to the city vast numbers. We may we'll regard
it as the Paris of ancient ages. The principal
object of worship was Venus, sufficient expla-
nation of its licentiousness. description of
the moral effect of such worship is not for pub
lie use. We notice, however. that Corinth was
at that time the seat OF the best learning of the
day. In the time of st. Panl Corinth was the
Capital of Achaia We see that culture is not
n guarantee of piety. Education must be along
the lines of morality. Christianity was put to
tremendous test at Corinth. Nowhere was
il more needed, nowhere less sought. If it
could match Corintb, it could not be out
matched anywhere else. If it could destroy
the shrines of Venus. no affairs elsewhere could
Withstand it. ST. Paul must have had great
confidence in Christianity when he ventured
to put it in competition with religion which
deied all the lower passions of depraved man
kind, o
l Cor, 5:1l13.
a. The Question.
1t is plain that in their letter to st. Paul Ia
letter which has been lost, and one of which we
have no copy they raised this question: Il" Is it
permitted to Christians TO eat any meat which
has been offered in sacrifice 10 idols?" Idolatry
was very common in Corinth. Habits before
conversion cling to persons even after il, and
require constant opposition and correction.
When a worshiper presented the animal to
the priest as sacrifice three processes took
place: /. 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-
voice. The people took their parts home and
often made feast therefrom. Now, it became
a famous question of casuistry whether or not
Christian could compromise himself by accept
ing au invitation to such entertainment. The
meat eaten had been offered to idols Would not
a Christian compromise his religion, which was
one teaching monothesm, filed with denunci-
atons 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 idol? 1t is
evident the Corinthian Christians could not set
tie this question. Some of the Church claimed
that such eating not at all out of the way;
others held it WAS shameful improperly. Those
who 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 expedient; not what is just, bat what is
charitable; not our own strength, but others
weakness. 1t required some courage on the
part of ST. Paul to take position opposite to
the majority, and in defense of the feeble as
to will power.
There may have been a spiri. of sel6shness
in the wish of certain ones to eat the flesh of
animals which had been offered at the heather
temples large portion of such meat belonged
I'll h.li - L..
titles as to make it necessary to open sae-rooms
for it. Such meat, though perfectly good, would
doubtless sell at great reduction in price. At
the same time, where so many animals were
needed for sacrifice, they would be expensive.
Hence IL would be quite object TO buy the
meat not ipj ured, but simply presented sacrii
ciaIy IN pagan temples to heather gods
little financial advantage may have bearing
even on a tlieologic question. To get an article
cheap would be more of an object than would
be the prevention of any hard feeling among
brethren or the possibility Of spiritual harm to
q fellow Christian.
b. The argument.
The entire eighth chapter is a unit of
thought, and had better be considered in its
entirety
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 ask ed about
matrimonial relations Those St. Paul exam
ined in the seventh chapter.
Beginning Chapter, 8, he practically says:
Now we are ready to consider your question
to the eating of meat left over after sacrificing
to idols"
The persons who wrote the letter argue in
favor of their position; to wit it is right to eat
such meat. They say: We through all !
this. ". ~ 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 |
worship of idols. An idol is nothing. [V. A. |
There is only one God anyway. There are |
things which called gods ". 81 There |
is no danger of our becoming idolaters."
st. Paul replies: Charity is more desira- |
bic quality than knowledge. man may be |
ever so well informed and yet be heartless in |
considerable, We, even wicked. Love (this word |
is to be preferred to charity, as not being am |
biguous) is edifying, unfying. 1t builds up, |
as being combining rather than separating |
influence. Nothing divides people into parties |
so surely as argument on the niceties and hair
spiittngs sure to spring up in debate on mat
tiers OF mere opinion rather than conscience. |
Those reports which | have heard to your
dissensions and which ] have sought to SCI
right in my first six chapters. illustrate the
work OF knowledge unaccompanied by lovely |
spirit Not knowing but wanting to know, is
the true position to occupy. That is a healthy |
psychologist condition where one is more con-
sclous of Ignorance than of knowledq0 No