The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-14
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
Aug. Is, 1s07-Cor. will, lib.

Wisdom was the real idol of the progressive
heather of Paul's day. They stin swung the
censor in perfunctory way before their images,
but in their hearts they burned incense to Sophia
alone. The fruits of the idolatry, however,
not much more desirable than those OF the
old. Wisdom, sought end in itself minis
tered to pride. = = over against this heather
knowledge Paul holds up the Christian gnosis in
contrast. Its superiority is at apparent.
Its source is divine. 1t comes by revelation of
God. Its contents are unspeakably precicus-God
Father. Jesus Brother But even
Christian knowledge, if alone, is dead. If held
speculatively it amounts to little. Truth is,
knowledge is a wing. One can never rise upon it
go in right line with it alone. Another wing
is Indispensable. Love is that other pinion With
knowledge and love the Christian can speed his
way gorfylng God in practical helpfulness to
Corinthians to keep the wing of love unfurled.
Inc heterogeneous composition Of the Christian
societies made this necessary Paul is liberal.
df SS be ecfeG b bns aeed before ea
idol. Meat, whether so placed or not, can be
Don't let the wing of knowledge ' drive rive
you fhe small pre sFGe ve
ether wing-the white pinion of love. In your
Christianity. Theoretically. they know that
idol is nothing, but practically, they have nor
notions imbibed with their mother milk. DO not
e MSe Res ran r. u3df yoaP
ne does what his conscience forbids, he sins
ways-demand generous self-denial for the SAKE
Of others.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Knowledge puf1eth up: Puffs up. never builds
up. The first person pulled up was the
devil-Besser.
known of him. To be fully known of God after
the nar in which one friend is thoroughly
known by another is the highest possibility of the
earthly life for the Christan.-Dwight.
Conscience being weak: Tenderness ap-
2k,%
ness and exactness of sense. which is the per
lection of this faculty. Though the eye is the
most tender and delicate part OF the body, yet
it is not therefore called weak long the
opposed TO strong, Whlch very strength con-
sisted in the tenderness or quickness of discern
Therefore, d one Which neither regards as wrong
what is not in fact 50; or q one which is not
which has not power enough TO restrain a per
Become a stumbling block: Note the distinc-
ton between absolute and relative right ana
wrong. Absolute right and wrong like absolute
Truth can each be but one ana qnaitera6le in
by any particular man-muat be measured, not by
particular circumstances and his knowledge of
right and wrong. Robertson
The body of Christ was torn about piece of
For For WHOM Christ died: Great pathos
in these words. Shall we, Tor the sake of eating
one kind of meat rather than another. endanger
the salvation d6 of those i2r whom the Eternal Son
l viii eat flesh: This new argument
in the world drawn from a new source and in
half Of a virtue, namely, tenderness for
the souls of men.-Whedon.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
!. With their full persuasion about such matters
some Corinthan Christians could have gone to
the extreme limit of a banquet in idol
temple without injury themselves esteeming it
a purely social affair. But suppose new
convert should pass and see the Christian re-
clining there. 1t would be stumbling block
1crg q fal will
his conscience was weak. His soul none
the less precious. Jesus died for it. And the
Christian without sCruples TOO needless or
sef-indulgent TO deny himself pleasure for the
sake of soul. Current life presents score
of analogous cases.
? Like the poor, the brother OF weak conscience
we shall probably have with US always He is
a blessing in disguise. But for him we would
not be called upon to exercise the Christ-hke
gift of self -denial-the loving and cheerful sur
lender. the sake of others, OF rights w know
perfectly well belong Us.
s. There is another side 20 this matter, however
The brother Of weak conscience owes a duty
to himself and the church. 4 he sooner he dis
charges i the better The duty is to rid himself
OF his childish scrupes. 10 get a conscience en-
lghtened and strengthened,