The Progress., 1893-10-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON V-OCT. 29-ABSTlN-
ENCE FOR OTHERS SAKES.
Golden Text; We, Then. That Are Strong,
Ought to Bear the Infirmities of the
Weak, and Not to Please Ourselves
Cor, VIII: I-13.


was founded in A. d. 80, about five
years before this episte was written,
when Paul was on his second mission
ary journey. He remained in the city
a year and a half. The epistle was
written early in A. d. 81, toward the
close of Pauls three years stay in
Ephesus. Paul was 55 years of age
and on his third missionary journey.
1t seems to have been written In
answer to a letter from the Corinthians
and the reports of visitors The church
was little band in a city of 400, 600.
A gem in flowing sewer of wicked
ness.
l. A Great Practical Difficulty
verse l. Things offered unto idols
were those portions of the animals
offered in sacrifice which were not laid
on the altar, and which belonged partly
to the priests and partly to those otfer-
ing them. These remnants were some
times eaten at feasts, sometimes sold
in the market by the priests, or by the
poor. Thus Christian might uncon-
sciously eat of such meat at the house
of friend, or by purchasing himself
at the public market. The question
was whether it was right for disciples
of Christ to partake of food so con-
nected with idolatry.
IL The Way Out by knowledge
verses 1-6. l. 1--WE know that we all
have knowledge" Admission into the
church brought with it vast amount
of spiritual and even intellectual
knowledge. Now begins a kind of
parenthesis which continues through
verse 3. knowledge puffeth up"
Fills with wind, as a bubble. A con-
ceited person is one whose nature is SO
inflated with self-opinion that he seems
to himself much larger than he really
is. A man may be learned, but yet
very small morally. But charity"
1t enlarges ones nature, ones powers,
ones character. 1t binds Christians
together in harmony.
2. "And if any man think that he
knoweth anything" Thinks that
without charity he really knows any
thing completely. "He knoweth
nothing yet as he ought to know" ."
He has mistaken part for the whole.
g. "But if any man love God" The
first and deepest love. "The same is
known of him. God is love, there
fore by loving we know God.
4. LAS concerning therefore" He
returns to his subject to apply the
principle 'We know that an idol is
nothing in the world" 1t has no ex-
istence as deity. 1t is but brass,
stone or wood.
5. "Yet though there be that are
called gods" Different objects wor-
SHIPPED by men, as sun, stars, idols,
fire and even beasts. "As there bs
gods many and lords many" So
called. Zone God, one Lord. ,
Realities contrasted with so-called
gods and lords
III. The Way Out by Love-verse'
7-12. There is not in every man thai
knowledge" Many are ignorant
having just escaped from idolatry.
"For some with conscience of the
idol" Being long used to worship
them. Eat it as thing offered unit
an idol" Feel that they are partak
ing in idol worship is defiled." L
burdened by a sense of guilt
s. But meat commendeth us not t
God" 1t is not our eating, but ou
moral condition, our love he cares for
9. "This liberty of yours" so good
so precious, may "become stumbling
block" over which the weak fall int
sin.
10. For if any man see thee, whicl
hast knowledge" The example o
those advanced in the faith is tina
much more dangerous. "Sit at mea
in the idols temple" Some wen
even so far as to eat in the precinct
of the heather temple. Weak
emboldened." Be built up.
IL. |'Shall the weak brother perish?
The Rev. Vers., ''he that is weak pei
isheth.' For whom Christ died.
Shall we, by our example, endange
the salvation of soul?
IL. "Ye sin against Christ" By de
. stroying the work he has done.
s ~. The Noble Resolve-vers. IL
Wherefore, if meat" old English fo
food, "make my brother to offend.
Cause him to fall into sin. 81 vii
eat no flesh" In order not to be
stumbling block to NV brother