1 Corinthians 8:4-8
So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
Paul lays out some basic theology before he gets to the problem of these chapters (8-10). He gives the position of the “strong” Christians who realize that any man-made idol is nothing but the imagination and artistry of human ingenuity. People like to create gods that they can control or who provide the answers that they want. The one true God is not bound by our understanding of Him. God is beyond our control and confinement by our limited understanding. Corinth was a polytheistic environment, with idols on every street corner, similar to Thailand with its many Buddha shrines.
Paul lays out some very important ideas about God. God is the source of all that exists. God is not bound by time or creation. There is no play for pantheism or panentheism here. All things came from God’s spoken word. There was no substance before God’s spoken word. Physicists have wondered how energy produces matter. The energy of creation is the Creator. From His energy matter came into existence. It did not exist before the spoken word, “Let there be.” This in itself should cause us to fall down in worship and adoration.
God is also the one for whom we exist. We were created to be in relationship with God. We find our true purpose and meaning only when we worship God in humble commitment and worship. God does not need us but wants us. By wanting us, God has created a space where love is an option.
Jesus is Lord and the one through whom all this happens. He is the “big bang,” the Word that came from God, the one by whom all things were spoken into existence. Paul is very close here to John in John 1:1-4 in his theology. I wonder if they got together and worked out some of these ideas together.
The change of preposition to “through whom we live” is important. Jesus is in a scientific sense the one who holds the universe together. On a more personal level, He is the one through whom I find meaning and purpose in my life. Anything outside of relationship with Christ is devoid of real life. It is a fabricated life, like the idols people worship. There may be some satisfaction and some happiness, but it does not last for eternity.
These verse drive me to want to worship God more. They call me to humble commitment of my whole being. I like to hold back parts of my life, just to be safe. But this is a false safety that actually propels me into the danger zone of pride. The only way to true life that lasts for eternity is to come before God in total consecration. The entirely sanctified life is the only road to experiencing all that God has for us now and for eternity.
For older posts, click here.