Daily Lesson for Sunday 26th of July 2026

Paul uses the theme of food offered to idols in order to address a deeper issue: the lack of love for others (1 Corinthians 8:1-13). The matter of food offered to idols split the church of Corinth into two groups. Some believed that their knowledge about the nonexistence of other gods gave them the right to eat anything (1 Corinthians 8:4). These are referred to as the “strong” (1 Corinthians 4:10). Those who opposed this behavior are called the “weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9-12). Paul uses such a label because they did not overcome some superstitious beliefs that marked their previous pagan experience. When seeing the “strong” eating food offered to idols, they might conclude that Christianity and idolatry were compatible. So, Paul did not want the “strong” to become a stumbling block to the weak.

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The Bible sees the act of eating food offered to idols very negatively (Acts 15:20,29; Acts 21:25; compare with Revelation 2:14,20). However, Paul does not utter as radical statements as one sees in these passages. This is because his primary concern regards the lack of unity that the misuse of knowledge could cause. Paul is not criticizing knowledge as evil in itself; instead, he’s against the kind of knowledge that leads to arrogance and division in the church. Knowledge without love is not true knowledge at all (1 Corinthians 8:2). True knowledge arises only when one loves God and is known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:3).

Quoting Deuteronomy 6:4, Paul shows that believers must know that there is only one God (1 Corinthians 8:4-6). Interestingly, he follows the same idea one sees in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, where the statement that our God is one is followed by the command “You shall love the Lord your God” (NKJV). For both Paul and Moses, knowledge without love is worthless.

Confident in their knowledge, the “strong” believed that eating food sacrificed to idols was harmless. As we will see on Wednesday and Thursday, Paul conceded to them that right under certain conditions. However, if that became a stumbling block for the “weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9), it should be avoided. Christians are supposed to practice self-denial out of love for Christ and others.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-05-knowledge-versus-love/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-05-knowledge-versus-love

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 25th of July 2026

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Read for This Week’s Study

1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:5-22; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Mark 12:28-31.

Memory Text:

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV).

1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 9:1-27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-33 brings the discussion on sexuality (in chapters 5–6) to a conclusion at the same time that it introduces Paul’s answers to specific questions asked through a letter (1 Corinthians 7:1) from the Corinthians. These answers will dominate the remainder of 1 Corinthians.

The transitional nature of 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 indicates that sexual immorality (chapters 5–7) and idolatry (chapters 8–10) are related topics. Indeed, they are often mentioned together in the New Testament (see Acts 15:20,29; Acts 21:25; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15).

In general, while in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 Paul deals with the problem of sexual immorality, in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 9:1-27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-33 his main concern is the issue of idolatry. He states that Christians must flee from both (1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:14).

Last week, we saw that by being a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), one can flee from sexual immorality. This week, we will see that one can flee from idolatry by doing “all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV).

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 1.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-05-all-to-the-glory-of-god/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-05-all-to-the-glory-of-god