Foods Sacrificed to Idols

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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.  1 Corinthians 8:8

  

Is Paul saying in the above verse that it does not matter what he eat? Is he saying we can eat unclean foods? No, the context is clearly set in the first verse of this chapter. It reads, “Now as touching things offered unto idols”.  Foods sacrificed to idols is the issue in 1 Corinthians 8, not clean and unclean meat. This is clearly seen in verse 4, “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols.”  This is clearly the case in Romans 14 as well, as clean and unclean foods were simply not an issue in Paul’s day.

  

Later in 1 Corinthians 10:25-27 Paul says, “Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, [that] eat, asking no question for conscience sake:For the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you [to a feast], and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.  Again some try to twist these verses to the destruction of their own health, saying that we can eat anything clean and unclean and should not even ask about it. However it is clear that Paul is not telling us to eat pork or anything unclean as that was not even on his mind as he wrote this. Again the issue was food sacrificed to idols. In verse 28 the context is very clear, “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.”  All Paul is saying here is that food sacrificed to idols is only a big deal to people who think idols are a big deal. Paul did not value idols, therefore food being given to idols was not an issue one way or the other. Nowhere in 1 Corinthians 10 or Romans 14 is Paul making an issue of unclean foods, much less telling us to eat unclean foods.

  

The fact that Paul recognized a distinct difference between what was clean and unclean is seen in 2 Corinthians 6:17 where he says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you.

You may share your questions or feedback with me at LayPastor@TampaAdventist.net