To Eat Meat or Not to Eat Meat 1 Corinthians 8:8

As Paul the apostle continued to share about false “gods and lords” and “offering sacrifices” to “idols”, he wrote, “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 and idol”. He added how “their conscience being weak is defiled”, and in chapter eight and verse eight of First Corinthians he shared concerning, “eating or not eating meat” where we read:

But meat commends us not to God: for neither, if we eat,

are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

The verse begins, “But meat commends us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; ” Paul began with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “meat” or “that which is eaten especially articles ceremonially allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law” “commends us” which means “bring us into fellowship or intimacy” “not to God” which means “not with the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”: “for neither” or “because it is nothing and not anything”, “if we eat” which means “if Paul and the church members consume or devour”, “are we” which refers to Paul and the church members “the better” which means “abounding, overflowing or abundantly furnished and affluent”. According to Paul, people were not “closer” or more “intimate” with God because they had the freedom to “eat” things offered to “idols”.

The verse continues, “ neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.” Paul added the word, “neither” or “it is nothing and not anything” “if we eat not” which means “unless Paul and the church members do not consume or devour” “are we” which refers to “Paul and the church members” “the worse” or “inferior, in lack and wanting”. Paul declared those who “do not eat” things offered in sacrifice to “idols” were not “inferior and in lack”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we realize whether the people within the church “ate” or did not “eat” things “offered” and “sacrificed” unto “idols”, it made no difference in their relationship with God. Those who ate were no more “intimate” with God than those who did not eat. Jesus Christ came to die for everyone's sins, and those who know Him as “Savior and Lord” shall be in a relationship with Him whether they “eat” or do not “eat” meats since those “gods” mean nothing at all.

Next time Paul tells the Corinthian church members to, “take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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