1: He entereth to entreat of another kind of things indifferent, to wit, of things offered to idols, of the use of flesh so offered and sacrificed. And first of all he reproveth all those things which the Corinthians pretended in using things offered to idols without any respect. First of all they affirmed that this difference of meats was for the unskilful men, but as for them, they knew well enough the benefit of Christ, which causeth all these things to be clean to them that are clean. Be it so saith Paul: be it that we are all sufficiently instructed in the knowledge of Christ, I say notwithstanding that we must not simply rest in this knowledge. The reason is, that unless our knowledge be tempered with charity, it doth not only not avail, but also doth much hurt, because it is the mistress of pride: nay it doth not so much as deserve the name of godly knowledge, if it be separate from the love of God, and therefore from the love of our neighbour.
a: This general word is to be abridged as appeareth, verse 7 for there is a kind of taunt in it, as we may perceive by the next verse.
b: Ministereth occasion of vanity and pride: because it is void of charity.
c: Instructeth our neighbour.
2: The application of that answer to things offered to idols: i grant, saith he, that an idol is indeed a vain imagination, ad that there is but one god and lord, and therefore that meat cannot be made either holy or prophane by the idol: but it followeth not therefore that a man may without respect use those meats as any other.
d: This word (idol) in this place is taken for an image which is made to represent some godhead, that worship might be given unto it: whereupon came the word (idolatry) that is to say, image service.
e: Is a vain dream.
f: When the father is distinguished from the Son, he is named the beginning of all things.
g: We have our being in him.
*: John 13:13 Chapter 12:3
h: But as the father is called Lord, so is the Son, God: therefore this word (one) doeth not respect the persons, but the natures.
i: This word (by) doth not signify the instrumental cause, but the efficient: for the Father and the Son work together, which is not so to be taken, that we make two causes, seeing they have both but one nature, though they be distinct persons.
3: The reason why that followeth not, is this: because there are many men which do not know that which you know. Now the judgement of outward things depend not only upon your conscience, but upon the conscience of them that behold you, and therefore your actions must be applied not only to your knowledge, but also to the ignorance of your brethren.
4: An applying of the reason: There are many which cannot eat of things offered to idols, but with a wavering conscience because they think them to be unclean: therefore if by thy example they enterprise to do that which inwardly they think displeaseth God, their conscience is defiled with this eating, and thou hast been the occasion of this mischief.
j: By conscience of the idol, he meaneth the secret judgement that they had within themselves, whereby they thought all things unclean, that were offered to idols, and therefore they could not use them with a good conscience. For this force hath conscience, that if it be good, it maketh things indifferent good, and if it be evil, it maketh them evil.
5: A preventing of a objection: Why then shall we therefore be deprived of our liberty? Nay saith the apostle, you shall lose no part of Christianity although you abstain for your brethrens sake, as also if you receive the meat, it maketh you no wit the more holy, for our commendation before God consisteth not in meats: but too use our liberty with offence of our brethren, is an abuse of liberty, the true use thereof is clean contrary, to wit, so to use it, as in using of it we have consideration of our weak brethren.
6: Another plain explication of the same reason, propounding the example of the sitting down at the table in the idols temple, which thing the Corinthians did evil account of among things indifferent, because it is simply forbidden for the circumstance of the place, although offence do cease, as it shall be declared in his place.
7: An amplification of the argument taken both of comparison and contraries: Thou wretched man, saith he, pleasing thyself with thy knowledge which indeed is none (for if thou haddest true knowledge, thou wouldest not sit down to meat in an idols temple) with thou destroy thy brother hardening his weak conscience by this example to do evil, for whose salvation Christ himself hath died?
*: Romans 14:15
8: Another amplification: Such offending of our weak brethren, redoundeth unto Christ, and therefore let not these men think that they have to do only with their brethren.
*: Romans 14:21
9: The conclusion, which Paul conceiveth in his own person, that he might not seem to exact that of other, which he will not be first subject to himself. I had rather (saith he) abstain for ever from all kind of flesh, then give occasion of sin to any of my brethren, much less would I refuse in any certain place of time for my brother's sake not to eat flesh offered to idols.

Chapter 8

1. From this place unto the end of the tenth chapter, he willeth them not to be at the Gentile prophane banquets. 18. He restraineth the abuse of Christian liberty, 11. and showeth that knowledge must be tempered with charity.

And 1 as touching things sacrificed unto idols, we know that we a all have knowledge: knowledge b puffeth up, but love c edifieth.
2 Now, if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the some is known of him.
4 2 Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed unto d idols, we know that an idol is e nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven, or in earth (as there be many gods, and many lords)
6 Yet unto us there is but one God, which is that Father, f of whom are all things, and we g in him: and *h one Lord Jesus Christ, i by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 3 But every man hath not that knowledge: for 4 many having j conscience of the idol, until this hour, eat as a thing sacrificed unto the idol, and so their conscience being weak, is defiled.
8 5 But meat maketh us not acceptable to God, for neither if we eat, have we the more: neither if we eat not, have we the less.
9 But take heed lest by any means this power of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weak.
10 6 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at table in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak, be boldened to eat those things which are sacrificed to idols?
11 7 And through thy knowledge shall the * weak brother perish, for whom Christ died.
12 8 Now when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 *9 Wherefore if meat offend my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother.