Easy idolatry (8:1, 4, 7, etc.) Things offered to idols (1, 4, 7) – Meat sacrificed to an idol; sacrificial meat [Ac.15:29; Rv.2:14, 20] 1 Co.10:28, what is sacrificed in a temple Knowledge (1, 7, 10, 11) – Knowledge is not everything (13:2)

Parallel triplets (8:5-6) Many gods – one God – all things Many lords – one Lord – all things One God: – Of whom = source – For Him = Purpose One Lord: – Through whom = Agent in creation – Through whom = Agent in creation (including new creation)

Idol offerings were divided into three parts (8:7) 1. Part burned on altar 2. Part paid to priests *Could not eat it all; sold to market 3. Part kept by worshipper *Problems: attend relative’s wedding? …Friend’s banquet?  Food does not pollute, Mk.7:18-19  A wounded conscience does

The sin (8:7-13) Conscience defiled, 7 Stumbling block, 9 Emboldened to eat, 10 Destroyed, 11 Wounded conscience, 12 Stumble, 13 – Fornication gives Christ’s property to another – Reckless eating wounds Christ

1 Corinthians 9: Introduction Chap.8: Paul answers questions about ‘rights’ – Do not insist on rights to detriment of others (8:9) Chap.9: Paul practices what he preaches – He does more than he asks of them Paul and Barnabas (9:5) Concentrated mostly on Gentiles (Ro.11:13) Jews understood principle of supporting God’s servants; Gentiles were used to hucksters (2 Co.2:17; 3 Jn.7-8)

Summary of Paul’s arguments Paul is the Lord’s apostle, 1-6 Customary to pay workers, 7 Law, 8-10 Gratitude, 11 Consistency, 12 Jewish provisions for priests, 13 Lord commanded it, 14

Circumstances determined actions (9:15) Why Paul did not use his right (15-18) Sometimes he accepted support (2 Co.11:8; Ph.2:25; 4:14-18) The matter of boasting (15-16) – Not the pride that steals glory from God, but sense of joy and fulfillment

The athlete (1 Co.9:25) self-controlcrown Key words: self-control... crown “What blows do athletes receive in their face, what blows all over their body. Yet they bear all the torture from thirst of glory. Let us also overcome all things, for our reward is not a crown or a palm branch or the trump- eter proclaiming silence for the announce- ment of our name, but virtue and strength of mind and peace acquired ever after” – Seneca

The herald (9:27) Herald announced the context, contestants, rules, etc. – Mt.10:27; Rv.5:2 Paul guards against disqualification – He ran; he fought (26) – If he does not follow the rules, he will lose his prize Disqualified: unqualified, worthless, base (2 Co.13:5-7; 2 Tim.3:8; Hb.6:8; Ro.1:28)