Paul's stance was conditional: eating meat offered to idols was permitted in itself because an idol cannot affect the meat, but believers were to refrain whenever eating would stumble a weaker believer or when the meat was identified as having been offered to an idol.
Les Feldick explains that Paul regarded the idol as nothing but dead stone or wood that could not contaminate meat. At the same time, Paul told believers not to eat if a new or weak believer would be troubled by it, or if a pagan host identified the meat as temple sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 8:4 — States plainly that an idol is nothing in the world, which is the foundation of Paul's teaching that the meat itself is not contaminated.
1 Corinthians 8:9 — Shows Paul's warning that a believer's liberty must not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1 Corinthians 10:28 — Gives Paul's direct instruction to not eat when someone identifies the meat as offered in sacrifice to idols.
In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul directly addresses food offered to idols. He writes, "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" (1 Corinthians 8:4). He also says, "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). Paul then warns, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9), and he concludes, "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend" (1 Corinthians 8:13). In 1 Corinthians 10, he tells believers to eat what is sold in the market without asking questions, and if invited to a feast, to eat what is set before them. But he adds, "But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake" (1 Corinthians 10:28).
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul did not treat the idol as having any power over the meat. The idol was nothing but dead stone or wood, and offering the meat to it did not affect the meat one iota. So far as Paul was concerned, he could eat it without compunction. However, Les also points out that the power behind idolatry is real: Satan works through idolatry, and Paul warned believers not to have fellowship with demons. According to Les, Paul's instructions were situational. If a mature Christian's eating caused a young believer to stumble, Paul said don't eat the meat for that believer's sake. If a pagan host specifically said, "This is offered in sacrifice tonight," the believer was to decline in order to show he wanted nothing to do with meat tainted by a demonic god. Otherwise, believers were free to eat, even at a pagan wedding feast, because the idol could not do anything to them.
Les Feldick explains that Paul considered the idol itself to be nothing but a dead idol of stone or wood. Offering meat to it did not change the meat one iota. Yet Les also stresses that while the idol is dead, the power behind it is not dead—that power is Satan working through idolatry. This is why Paul could say both that the meat was unaffected and that believers should have no fellowship with demons.
Les shows from Paul's teaching that if someone at the table said, "This is offered in sacrifice," the believer was to eat not for the sake of the one who said it. The believer was to demonstrate that he would have nothing to do with meat tainted by having been offered to a demonic god. But if no such identification was made, the believer could eat freely because nothing was wrong with the meat.
Les explains that some weak, young believers had a conscience about the idol, and their conscience was defiled when they ate meat knowing where it had been. Paul's solution was that the mature believer should not use his liberty in a way that became a stumbling block. If a newer believer saw a mature Christian eating meat offered to an idol and was shaken, Paul said don't eat the meat for that young believer's sake.
Do Everything for the Glory of God — 1 Corinthians 10:31 Explained
Somebody asked me the other day, again, do you read every letter, every one? I read them and I set them over, and if Iris has got the time, she reads them, if not, she'll read them a little later. But if you write to us, you rest assured, I am going to read it. I may someday get to the place I'll have to stay up half the night, but that's all right. I'm still going to read every single letter.
The Stumbling Young Believer
Les explains that if a mature believer's eating meat offered to an idol causes a young believer to stumble, Paul's instruction is to stop eating it for that young believer's sake.
When the Host Says the Meat Was Offered in Sacrifice
Les shows that Paul told believers not to eat if the host specifically identified the meat as offered in sacrifice, even though the idol itself had not affected the meat one iota.
The Dead Idol and the Power Behind It
Les clarifies that while the idol is dead stone or wood and cannot contaminate meat, the power behind idolatry is Satan, so Paul warns against fellowship with demons.
The Weak Conscience Defiled
Les explains that weak believers, knowing where the meat came from, had a defiled conscience, showing why Paul cautioned against causing them problems.
Liberty That Becomes a Stumbling Block
Les notes Paul said meat itself makes no difference and the Bible never commands vegetarianism, but believers must not let their liberty become a stumbling block to the weak.
A Pagan Wedding Feast
Les describes a believer invited to a pagan wedding feast: Paul did not tell him to stay away, because the idol could do nothing to him, but a brand new Christian at the same table could be troubled.
Paul's Hard-to-Comprehend Thinking
Les observes that Paul's reasoning is hard to grasp: on one hand the idol is nothing but dead stone or wood, yet on the other Paul warns about demonic powers.
1 Corinthians 8:4: 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.
This is the key verse showing Paul's conviction that an idol has no real power over the meat.
1 Corinthians 8:7: 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.
Explains why a weak believer's conscience could be defiled even though the meat itself was not contaminated.
1 Corinthians 8:8: 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.
Shows that eating or not eating meat has no spiritual benefit or harm in itself.
1 Corinthians 8:9: But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
This is Paul's warning that freedom must not damage a weaker believer.
1 Corinthians 8:13: Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Paul's personal commitment to give up meat rather than cause another believer to stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:20: But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Warns that although the idol is nothing, the spiritual power behind idolatry is demonic.
1 Corinthians 10:25: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
Paul permits believers to eat meat sold in the market without raising questions about its origin.
1 Corinthians 10:27: 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.
Shows Paul's instruction that believers may eat freely at an unbeliever's feast unless told it was sacrificed to an idol.
1 Corinthians 10:28: But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
This is the specific command to refrain when the meat is explicitly identified as idol sacrifice.
No. Paul taught that an idol could not change or contaminate the meat, so it was not wrong in itself. He did, however, instruct believers to refrain when eating would stumble a weak believer or when the host said it was offered to an idol.
Paul said the idol itself was nothing but dead stone or wood and could not affect the meat. But Les Feldick points out that the power behind idolatry, Satan, is real, and Paul warned against fellowship with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20).
No. Les Feldick says the Bible never demands vegetarianism. Paul said it makes no difference whether you eat or don't eat, and the only restriction was for the sake of another person's conscience.
Watch the Teaching: Do Everything for the Glory of God — 1 Corinthians 10:31 Explained