No Offense to Jews, Gentiles or the Church 1 Corinthians 10:32

As Paul the apostle continued to exhort the Corinthian church members concerning “eating, drinking or whatsoever they did”, he told them to do them all “to the glory of God”. In chapter ten and verse thirty-two of First Corinthians, Paul told the Corinthian church members they were to “give none offense to Jews, the Gentiles or the church” where we read:

Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

The verse begins, “Give none offense, neither to the Jews, ...”. Paul began with the word, “give” which means “arise, happen or be made” “none offense” or “having nothing to strike against, not causing to stumble or not troubled by a consciousness of sin”, “neither” which means “even, indeed and also” “to the Jews” which refers to “those people who belong to the Jewish nation”. The church members were not to “offend” people who belonged to the Jewish nation.

The verse goes on to say, “...nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” Paul continues with the words, “nor” which means “even, indeed and also” “to the Gentiles” which refers to “the name that embraces all nations who are not Jews that made the language, customs, and learning of the Greeks their own”, “nor” or “even, indeed and also” “to the church” which refers to “the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”“of God” or “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. The church members were also not to “offend” people who were other than Jews and part of the “church”.

When we think through these words from Paul, we see how Paul's intent was to have the people within the church in Corinth not “offensive” toward “Jews, Gentiles or the church”. Jesus desires for His church to exhibit love toward one another whether they are in the church, Jewish or other than Jews. He came to die for the sins of all people, and when the church demonstrates love to others, they show true faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Next time we end this chapter and see Paul tells the Corinthians how he is not, “seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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