39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

CHAPTER VIII.

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

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PARAPHRASE.

well; but he who does not marry her, does better. 39 I add as to the case of widows in reference to these events, that a married woman is by the law of marriage engaged to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband be dead, she is free to be married to whomever she pleases, only with a due regard to her profession of faith in our Lord. Yet, since she would, as an unmarried woman, be less an object for hostility in a time of persecution, she is in a happier condition if she remain as she is, according to my judgment; and I have no reason to doubt that I have the spirit of God forewarning me of these events, and accordingly directing me in giving this decision.

1

2

Now as to things that have been offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that we all have as Christians a knowledge in common of their sinfulness. (Particular knowledge, be it observed, is apt to inflate us with self esteem, but love to our fellow Christians establishes us in Christian faith and practice; and consequently, if any Christian thinks

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

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.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

3

4

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PARAPHRASE.

that he knows any thing relating to Christianity so certainly, that he may act upon it to the neglect of the opinion of others, he has, as yet, known nothing of Christianity as he ought to know it; and if any Christian loves God, God cannot but be known by him as acting from this principle of love.) Then concerning the eating of things that have been offered in sacrifice to idols, we know, as · Christians, that there is no representative of God really existing in creation, and that there is but ' one God; and since then there is no one to whom these things could be so offered except in the mind of the person so offering them, we may conclude that it cannot be unlawful to eat them except with such intention. For if indeed there are in the different systems of idolatry nominal gods whether as existing in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many such gods and many such lords); yet in our conviction there is one God the Father, from whom all things have issued into existence, and we for the purpose of communion with him, and one Lord to whom we owe allegiance, Jesus Christ, by

6

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.

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.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

PARAPHRASE.

whom as the efficient cause all things have been created, and by whom we have been brought to our present condition of professed communion with 'God. However, all Christians have not this particular knowledge of the subject. But some even to this day believing in their consciences that honour can be done to an idol by eating a thing that has been offered in sacrifice to it, believe that in eating an idol-sacrifice they eat it as such, and thereby do honour to the idol; and consequently if they eat, they are in their consciences, in which they doubt whether they do not thereby do honour to the idol and so commit sin, guilty of polluting themselves with idols. But the mere eating of such things cannot set us in favour with God; for neither if from a sense of lawfulness we eat them, do we do more than our duty, nor if from a sense of unlawfulness we do not eat them, are we deficient in our duty. But this being the case, and it being consequently optional with you to eat of them or not at your discretion, take care lest this very liberty of yours become a hindrance in the way of final salvation to those who doubt whether they do not thereby do honour to the idol and so

8

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10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

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.

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FARAPHRASE.

commit sin. This it will naturally be in the case of your eating them in an idolatrous temple. For if any such person should see you who have, professedly, superior knowledge on the subject partaking of the sacrifice in the idol's temple, will he not from the close affinity between the eating and the worship impute to you a compromise of conscience, and will he not in consequence (as far as relates to the influence of your example) be trained up as a Christian to compromise his conscience by eating things offered in sacrifice to idols, while at the same time he doubts whether he does not thereby do honour to the idol and commit sin? And thus, your Christian brother, being doubtful whether he does not commit sin by eating such things, though led to comply with the practice by the influence of your example, will be ruined through your superior knowledge on the subject, your Christian bro12 ther for whose sake Christ died. But remember that they who thus sin against their Christian brethren and force their doubtful consciences, sin against Christ by checking the just influence of his religion on their minds. Wherefore as to myself,

13

CHAPTER IX.

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you ; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

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PARAPHRASE.

I resolve that if the eating of food under those circumstances hinders my Christian brother's performance of his duty, I will never eat food under those circumstances, in order that I may not hinder my Christian brother's performance of his duty.

If any of you question my fitness to urge you to this zealous regard for the interests of the Gospel, as being advice unsupported by my own practice, I wish those persons to consider the conduct which I have actually adopted towards you as a Christian teacher. I ask them then, am I not an apostle regularly appointed to preach the Gospel? Am I not so appointed independently of human authority? have I not had a personal vision of our Lord Jesus Christ; and been thereby qualified to preach the Gospel by being an eye-witness of his resurrection? Is not your profession of Christianity the 2 result of my labour? If I have not been appointed an apostle to any others, yet doubtless I have to you; for you as a society of professing Christians are a testimony of my appointment, since many of you were idolaters, to whom, consequently, no other apostle felt authorized to preach, neither was any other duly qualified for it by special divine re