1 Corinthians 8-9

== 1 Corinthians 8 ==
1 Cor. 8:1-13 -  1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 
 There is not much for our purposes in 1 Corinthians 8, but there are a couple of nuggets worth mentioning. The first of these is found in verse 5 which says that there are things called gods in heaven and on earth, that there are in fact many gods and many lords (Grk. kyrios).  To what heaven does this refer?  Considering the context of Gentile audience mixed with idol worship, I doubt this is a complicated issue.  We aren't speaking of the Judeo-Christian Heaven where Jehovah dwells.  It is a more faux-heaven such as Olympus, the sky, or some other generic version of heaven where men have falsely ascribed anthropomorphic authority to inanimate objects or events in nature.  Zues, Ra, Molech, etc. ad. nauseum. I bring this point up only because of the mention of the words heaven and earth to show that not every use is concerning the Jewish system that was about to be destroyed. 
The second interesting point is verse 10, though it does not relate to the apocalyptic.  It's interesting enough to me as we pass through this letter to stop and mention it.  Here are the points that need to be understood from Paul. 
# Idols are nothing, have no power, nor authority.
# It is not sinful to eat meat offered to idols.
# You can eat meat offered to idols without sin, but take care that you do not cause a weak brother who does think its wrong (a matter of conscience - Romans 14) to sin.
# You can sit at meat in the idol's temple! Note that Paul does not condemn going to the temple to a false god and eating the meat there.  
What he says is that if you do go and a weak brother sees you there and is emboldened to sin because of it, you are in trouble.  He ends by saying that if such be the case, Paul will not ever eat meat again.  
The implications of this passage are powerful, and can be applied to modern day situations.  If a company supports something that I believe is sinful, buying from that company something that is not sinful does not make me a partaker in their evil.   
* Ex. 1:  If a bookstore sells books by an author who advocates Satanism and I buy a book on cooking from that same store, I have not sinned.
* Ex. 2:  If Ford actively contributes to the homosexual agenda and I buy a Ford vehicle, I have not sinned. 
* Ex. 3: If Paypal decides not to do business in North Carolina because they don't agree with a law passed concerning allowing perverted men to use women's restrooms, and I still use Paypal to transfer money to other people or businesses, I have not sinned.
Boycott or not as your conscience dictates, but buying or not buying in similar cases is not sinful. The last point here is that Paul says he will not eat meat "while the age (αἰών) stands".  More of this could be made than I think is actually here, but what I see here is Paul tying his lifespan to the duration of the age that was about to end.  Instead of saying until his death, he says to the end of the age, which for him (considering all that he says in the upcoming chapter) is the same thing. 
== 1 Corinthians 9 ==
Nothing of apocalyptic import in this chapter.  Lots of thick, practical doctrine such as authorization for paying preachers and going to war. 
One nugget that I do find interesting is that in verse 5 Paul includes at least two of Jesus' brothers as apostles (sandwiched in between "apostles" and "Cephas" (Peter - also an apostle).  These were James and Jude (Simon and Joses were not believers during Christ's earthly ministry (John 7:5) and so were not chose as apostles), the writers of the books of the NT bearing those names. 1 Cor. 9:5 - 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 
Category:Apocalyptic