Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols in the Early Church

Abstract

Many scholars argue that in 1 Corinthians 8–10, Paul directs the members of the ekklēsia in Corinth to avoid idol food only for the sake of the “weak” members who see eating it as idolatry. Beginning my analysis of Paul’s argument not with 1 Corinthians 8, but with 1 Corinthians 10, in which there are no slogans and there is thus less confusion regarding which lines represent Paul’s own position, I argue that Paul is opposed to the eating of idol food any time it is identified as such because he sees this act as communion with demons. Paul begins his argument by instructing the “knowledgeable” to avoid idol food for the sake of the “weak” as a means of persuasion, which not only will promote unity in the ekklēsia but also will convince the “knowledgeable” to adopt the practice that Paul prefers.