1 Corinthians #15 – Weekly Study Questions

Kyle Bartholic   -   October 23, 2025

Freedom for Righteousness

1 Corinthians (CGS#15) – 8:1-13

INTRODUCTION: In our study of 1 Corinthians, we are in a section where Paul is answering specific questions from the Corinthian believers. In chapter 7, Paul addressed their questions about marriage. Now in chapter 8, he will answer their questions about eating food sacrificed to idols. Paul’s general approach in these sections is not so much to give believers a legalistic set of rules, but to remind them that they are to honor God in all that they do, whether they eat or drink or get married or stay single, or whatever they do. He’ll literally say it that way in 10:31. So when it comes to food from the Gentile Temples, they are free to eat or not eat, as long as they apply wisdom and consider their brothers and sisters in Christ. What makes this passage so difficult for you and me is that the original context is nothing like our current context. Commentator Thomas Schreiner does an excellent job helping us understand the food controversy. He writes,

 

“An invitation to a temple found in the Oxyrhynchus Papyri reads: ‘Apollonius requests you to dine at the table of the Lord Serapis on the occasion of the coming of age of his brothers in the temple of Thoeris’ (P. Oxy. 1484). Associations were popular in the Graeco-Roman world, and people who shared the same trade would join together for a meal and sacrifices. Some feasts were given in honor of a god, but one could also attend a temple for private events like birthdays, funerals, the birth of a child, and so on. Willis argues that the purpose of many meals in temples was only social, but in the ancient world, the social and the religious were not neatly separated from one another. The Western conception of separating religion from the social realm did not exist in the Graeco-Roman world, especially with regard to meals in temples. For Christians to refuse to eat in such settings would strike unbelievers as antisocial and could lead them to think that Christians were not good citizens, so they might treat the Christians as social outcasts. Christians debated whether it was permissible to eat food sacrificed to idols. It will be argued here that Paul bans the eating of such food in temples, and, if believers are informed that food has been offered to idols, they must refrain from eating it. Believers are not, however, required to search out whether food has been offered to idols. If they are unaware of the origin of any food, they are free to eat it. Paul’s rule was much more lax than the rules followed in the Judaism of his day, for Jews would often refrain from eating Gentile food out of fear that it was contaminated, even if they were not sure whether the food had been offered to idols.”[1]

 

Schreiner helps us to understand the social significance and challenges of not eating in the temples, and the easy assumptions of idolatry that could have been made. He also helps us to understand the degree of freedom that Paul gives in contrast to Jewish dietary laws at the time. What is clear is that Paul doesn’t see the freedom of the individual as a right to engage in sin or to be used to cause another believer to sin. Instead, as believers, we experience freedom in Christ in order to pursue righteousness and to build one another up, not to demand our individual liberties. So while eating food sacrificed to idols is not something we’re going to have to worry about, we do need to consider the broader principle of how we think about freedom and liberty. See, we live in an age that elevates individual liberty to the level of idolatry and demands freedom in accordance with partisan lines that drive divisions. Into our world, Paul’s words cry out against these ideas and cultural expectations. They teach us that honoring one another is a bold gospel action in a culture of partisanship.  We honor one another by building each other up in love, and that means, at times, laying down our individual liberties.

 

GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, take time to answer this question together: When was a time someone went out of their way and gave something up to honor you?

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

 

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday-Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

 

 

Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions about the article of faith we are studying that week.

  1. What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
  2. How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
  3. Paul isn’t putting down the pursuit of knowledge, but reminding them that knowledge without love can lead to all sorts of wrong and communal harm. In what situations could a focus on knowledge, facts, or rights squeeze out love?
  4. Are there any “rights” you are holding on to that could upset the faith of others by tempting them to violate their consciences? What needs to change?
  5. When it comes to honoring one another, take time to talk through the four attributes of how we honor one another. Which ones come easily? Which is more difficult? What are steps to grow in each area?
    1. Humble – Considering others first.
    2. Patient – Seeing the big picture in someone’s life.
    3. Gentle – Exercising self-control when I’m upset.
    4. Loving – Working for someone’s good. e., Helping them follow Jesus.

 

 

 

[1] Thomas R. Schreiner, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J. Schnabel, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2018), 163.