Everything Is Permissible, But: The Nature of Christian Freedom

Ryrie

• (24) good = “welfare”
• (25-28) “The subject now changes from meat scrificed to idols and served at pagan feasts to meat sacrificed to idols that is bought in the market and served at private dinner parties. A believer has the liberty to eat such meat unless questioned, in which case he shoud restrict his liberty.”
• (30) “Because Paul does not want his liberty to provide a reason for condemning him, he will voluntarily restrict it for the glory of God.”
• (31) “do it all for the glory of God” “is the all-inclusive principle concluding the discussion that began in 8:1: Test all conduct by whether or not it manifests the characteristics of God. Other principles for guiding the beleiver's conduct in this book are (1) is it beneficial (6:12)? (2) is it enslaving (6:12)? (3) will it hinder the spiritual growth of a brother (8:13)? (4) does it edify (build up, 10:23)?”
• (32) “The mention of Jews separate from 'the church' shows that Israel was not replaced by the NT church but remains distinct in this age.”

Henry

• “A Christian must not barely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and for the use of edification.”
• The Christian “must be concerned not to hurt his neighbour, nay, he must be concerned to promote his welfare; and must consider how to act so that he may help others, and not hinder them in their holiness, comfort, or salvation.”
• “Those who allow themselves in every thing not plainly sinful in itself will often run into what is evil by accident, and do much mischief to others.”
• “The priest's share of heathen sacrifices was thus frequently offered for sale, after it had been offered in the temple.”
• “Though it is sinful to use any food in an idolatrous manner, it is no sin, after such abuse, to apply it, in a holy manner, to its common use.”
• “Christianity does by no means bind us up from the common offices of humanity, nor allow us an uncourteous behaviour to any of our own kind, however they may differ from us in religious sentiments or practices.”
• “Though Christians should be very careful to know and understand their duty, yet they should not, by needless enquiries, perplex themselves.”
• “The earth is the Lord's, therefore you may eat any thing without scruple that is set before you as common food; and yet, because the earth is the Lord's, eat nothing that will give offence, lay a stumbling-block before others, and encourage some in idolatry, or tempt others to eat when they are not clear in their own mind that it is lawful, and so sin, and wound their own consciences.”
• “Christians should be very cautious of doing what may thus prejudice the consciences of others, and weaken their authority with them, which is by all means to be kept up.”
• “Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, nor their own reproach.”
• “in eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the fundamental principle of practical godliness.”
• “The great end of all practical religion must direct us where particular and express rules are wanting.”
• “Nothing must be done against the glory of God, and the good of our neighbours, connected with it.”
• “Nothing must be done against the glory of God, and the good of our neighbours, connected with it. We should not so much consult our own pleasure and interest as the advancement of the kingdom of God among men.”
• “A Christian should be a man devoted to God, and of a public spirit.”
• “A preacher may press his advice home with boldness and authority when he can enforce it with his own example. He is most likely to promote a public spirit in others who can give evidence of it in himself. And it is highly commendable in a minister to neglect his own advantage that he may promote the salvation of his hearers. “

Reflecting God

• (23) With the phrase “everything is permissible for me,” “Paul is probably quoting some in the Corinthian congregation who boasted that they had a right to do anything they pleased. The apostle counters by observing that such 'freedom' of action may not benefit the Christian” or anyone else.
• (23) “Personal freedom and desire for one's rights are not the only considerations. One must also consider 'the good of others.'”
• (25) It's okay to eat meat “even if it has been sacrificed to an idol, because out in the public market it has lost its pagan religious significance.”
• (26) “A quotation from Ps 24:1 used at Jewish mealtimes as a blessing.”
• (27) “Whether or not it might be meat sacrificed to idols, ask no questions. As long as the subject has not been brought up, you are free to eat the meat, even if it had been offered to an idol.”
• (28) “If the meat has been identified as meat sacrificed to idols and you eat it, the man – whether a believer or an unbeliever – might think you condone, or even are willing to participate in, the worship of the idols the meat has been offered to.”
• (28) “In eating meat that has publicly been declared to have been sacrificed to idols, you may offend 'the other man's conscience' (v 29) by causing him to think it is all right to eat meat sacrificed to idols even though he has doubts about it. Or if he is an unbeleiver, he may thin that the Christian worships both God and a pagan idol.”
• (29) “The exercise of one's personal freedom is to be governed by whether or not it will bring glory to God, whether it will build up the church of God and whether it will encourage the unsaved to receive hrist as Savior and Lord (vv 31-33).”
• (30) “Paul could thank God for meat sacrificed to idols, for the idol is nothing and the meat is a part of God's created world.”
• (31) “Teh all-inclusive principle that governs the discussion in chs 8-10 is that God should be glorified in everything that is done.”
• (32) “The particular cause of stumbling Paul had in mind was that of eating meat offered to idols. Living to glorify God will result in doing what is beneficial for others, whether Christians ('the church of God') or non-Christians ('Jews, Greeks').”
• (33) “Paul does not mean that he will compromise the truths of the gospel in order to please everybody, but that he willconsider his fellowman and not cause anyone's conscience to be offended by his daily life, thus keeping that person from receiving the gospel.”