Appendix. From Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural studies in 1 Corinthians, Downers Grove, Illinois, IVP Academic,
3.6 Food Offered to Idols. Freedom and Responsibility (A Final Word). 1 Cor. 10:23-11:1.
…Paul created a multicultural church, and he urges his readers to care for the interests of ”the other” (believer or nonbeliver), setting aside their own interests.
The opening lines of each of these two cameos are related in a special way. Cameo 1 sets out general principles while cameo 7 offers applications of those principles. We can almost hear the conversation between Paul and his readers. It is as if they are engaged in the following dialogue:
Paul As a general principle (cameo 1 {10:23}) can say, “All things are lawful tome but they are not all helpful. Nor do all things build up.”
Paul’s readers Can you give us a general sense as to how to apply these two principles?
Paul Yes, I can (cameo 7 {10:32-33}). Let us look at the two parts of what I have just said.
- Regarding being helpful, don’t offend Jews, Greeks or the church of God. You gain nothing by offending people. It makes them angry, and they become entrenched in their opposing views. Giving offense is simply not helpful.
- As for building up, when you do not offend you have the opportunity to commend your message of salvation, and in the process build up the community at large. You need to also build up the believing community internally. Work to build up, not tear down. (p. 287) […]
In cameo 7 Paul sets a high standard. He is engaged in evangelism and his theological goal is clear. But his method is also clear. The standard is: Give no offense to Jews, Greeks or to the church. For him there will be no public attacks on the faith of others. Critical analysis, yes, attacks—no! While writing to Christians he does not hide the fact that the gods of the “the Gentiles” do not exist and that their worship brings them into fellowship with demons. As noted, archaeology has identified Greek shrines in Corinth dedicated to the worship of twelve different gods. But there is no attack on any of these idols, their sacred books, their temples or their priests. When lecturing on Mars Hill (Acts 17: 22-31) Paul found common ground between his message and respected Greek authors. In Paul’s ministry, tolerance, open-mindedness and respect flowed together with critical analysis and non-apologetic evangelism. To update Paul’s directive into the twenty-first century we could say, “Give no offense to Jews or to Muslims or to the church of God. Do not seek your own advantage, but theirs—and at the appropriate time, in a respectful and culturally sensitive way, bear witness to the Christian story without apology.” This directive is clear, yet Paul leaves the reader with a further question.
In the second essay Paul boldly instructed the Corinthians to dismiss the incestuous man. In this third essay he directs them to give “no offense to the church of God.” How can these two texts be reconciled? Was he not potentially offending at least a part of the church by urging the dismissal of the (p.288) offender…. It may be possible to combine these two texts by suggesting that what Paul means is, “Strive to avoid offending the conscience of anyone, and at the same time, maintain ethical standards within the body of Christ, even if that effort may require discipline in order to protect the spiritual health of the community and save the offender.”
The second semantic envelope in this homily (cameos 2, 6) is also remarkable. The two matching cameos are seen together in figure 3.3(3).
2.. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market
Without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, EAT
and everything in it.” ALL Is the Lord’s
_
6 31 So, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do, EAT
do all to the glory of God. In All—Glorify God
Figure 3.6(3). Cameos 2 and 6 (I Cor 10: 25-26, 31)
These two cameos unite around the topic of “eating and the divine.” Cameo 2 tells the reader: All meat sold in the marketplace belongs to God, not to the idols, because the entire earth is the Lord’s. This affirmation must have been hugely liberating for Paul’s readers. Imagine a new Greek Christian entering the meat market in Corinth with great inner turmoil and wondering, “If this meat was offered to Asclepius the god of health, it must belong to him. And if I buy it and eat it, will Asclepius make me sick because I no longer worship him?” “No,” answers Paul—“it all belongs to the one Lord who created all things” (cameo 2). Such fears are groundless. So if you eat it or do not eat it—give all glory to God alone (cameo 6) and do not be afraid. (p.289)—pp.287-89
As is common the climax of the homily appears in the center (cameo 40, where love is prominent.) Paul indirectly tells his readers, “Your rights and your freedom are not the only components in this discussion. What about love?” We do not know if the informant whisperingin the ear of the Christian guest is the unbelieving host showing consideration to his guest, or a fellow Christian who happens to be present at the banquet. In either case, what should the Christian guest do when he or she is specifically informed at the banquet about the pagan origins of the meat?
To paraphrase Paul’s directive he seems to be telling his readers,
If you are invited to a meal in an unbeliever’s home and someone quietly informs you that the meat is “idol foo,” out of your love for the informant, who is trying to be sensitive to what he thinks are your feelings, don’t eat the meat. Your freedom should be tempered by love.—p. 290
In the opening homily (8:1-13) of essay three, Paul asked that knowledge and love be kept together. At the close of the essay he urges the uniting of (p.290) freedom and love. Paul is again subtly preparing the reader for the hymn to love that will appear in chapter 13.
The uniting of freedom and sensitivity/love here in cameo 4 {10:28} is connected to cameo1 {10:23} at the beginning and cameo 7 {10:32-33} at the end. Summarizing Paul’s opening cameo he insists that “all things are lawful, but all are not helpful or “upbuilding”. Why is this/ Because freedom must be marinated with love (came 4 {10:28}). At the end of the homily in cameo 7 {10:32-33}Paul teaches: Give offense to no one, seek their advantage, not your own—that they may be saved. This reflects the love admonished in the center cameo.
The larger question is not, what does freedom assure me (cameos 3,5 {10:27, 29b, 30}? But rather, what does love require of me (cameo 4 {10:28, 29a}? For Paul’s readers who were accustomed to ring composition, this climatic call for sensitivity/love was unambiguous and compelling.
As noted earlier, for many contemporary readers the order is confusing. We are conditioned to listening to a presentation that offers:
On the one hand:
At home (2) and at private banquets (3) give thanks, eat what you like (5) and give glory to God (6).
But, (alla) on the other hand::
If someone tells you, “This is idol meat,” for his sake do not eat the meat (4).
[..]
This is how a Christian can live in a non-Christian society. As noted, Paul’s theme song throughout the essay is “Freedom and Responsibility” That responsibility (cameo 4) takes on the color of love and sensitivity.
In summary, Paul has earlier discussed
- What about idol meat served in temple-operated restaurants? Paul’s answer is, It is acceptable if you really understand that the idols do not exist and as long as there is no one present who is still deeply unsettled about these so-called gods.
- What about eating and drinking in an idol worship service? Paul’s answer was, “Never! Such eating is participation in the worship of demons.” (p.291)
In this text Paul considers two further questions. These are:
- Can I buy this idol meat in the market and eat it at home? Paul replies by saying, “Eat whatever is sold in the meat market” (cameo 2). The idols do not exist and the meat itself belongs to God—not to the idols. The whole earth is his.
- What about a dinner party in the home of one of my unbelieving friends? Paul responds using language that is almost a direct quote from what Jesus told the seventy disciples when sent them out two by two. Both Jesus (Lk 10:8) and Paul say, “Eat whatever is set before you” (cameo 3). But if someone tells you, “This is idol meat’, out of love for the informant—don’t eat. (pp.291-92)
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