JOSEPH W. TKACH
June 1988
Dear Friend:
Thank you for your question concerning I Corinthians 10:27.
Did God here make an exception to His law? Are there
circumstances under which it is all right -- even advisable to
eat unclean meats? For the answer, we need to consider to whom
these instructions were given.
The Corinthians, converted from pagan idolatry, came from a
society in which sacrificing to various idols was a daily way of
life. Those offerings were sacrificed in the pagan temples
continually, and the meat was usually eaten by the person who
brought it.
Often, however, not all the meat was consumed. Each day the
priests were left with a surplus. Not willing to miss a chance to
turn a quick profit, they sold the extra meat to local butcher
shops -- called "shambles" -- where it was sold to the public.
This is where the problems arose.
Paul had taught the converts at Corinth not to become
involved in pagan rituals or sacrifices (I Cor. 10:14-21).
Christians should have no connection with such idolatrous
practices.
But some questioned eating the leftover sacrificial meat
sold in the butcher shops. How were Christians to tell the
difference between ordinary meat and that which came from pagan
altars? And if you were invited to a friend's home, how could you
be sure the host wasn't serving "defiled" meat?
Paul explained that the idol was just wood and stone (verse
19). The meat offered to it was just meat. The sin would be in
actually participating in a pagan ceremony (verses 20-21).
Therefore, Paul told the Corinthians to stop worrying and to
go ahead and buy their meat from the meat markets without asking
whether it had been sacrificed to idols (verse 25). It didn't
matter where the meat came from as long as it was good meat.
The same principle applied to eating at the home of a
friend. It did not matter where the meat came from or what had
happened to it. Meat was meat -- regardless. As long as it was
clean meat, it was all right to eat. That is why Paul said, "If
any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you
desire to go, eat whatever is set before you" (verse 27, RAV).
When Paul wrote "whatever," he was referring to any clean
meat which either had or had not been offered in sacrifice to an
idol. Paul's statements have nothing to do with the question of
clean versus unclean meat. He was not claiming God's dietary laws
were done away. He was simply showing that it was all right to
eat clean meat which had once been part of a sacrifice to an
idol.
Paul did add one warning, however. He said to ask "no
question for conscience' sake" (verse 27). In other words, don't
ask the host where the meat came from. It is better to ignore
that matter, since it makes no difference anyway. If the
Christian questioned the host about the meat, and then ate it,
the host might be led to think that his Christian guest was
compromising his belief. And others present might be left with
the impression that idol worship isn't so bad in the eyes of a
Christian. If someone volunteers the information that the meat is
"tainted," then, in consideration of that person's conscience,
the Christian should refrain from eating it.
The context of this chapter concerns whether or not it is
permissible for a Christian to eat meat that had been offered to
idols. Unclean meats is not the subject under discussion and is
not even mentioned. As other parts of God's Word show, unclean
meats should never be eaten (Lev. 11 and Deut. 14).
We hope you find this information enlightening. It is a
pleasure to serve you.
PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT
PASTOR GENERAL