Pod Prep: 7-6-18
Did Paul Teach That All Things Are Lawful For Us As Believers ?
UNDERSTANDING WHAT PAUL MEANT BY 'ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL FOR ME'
Paul is often misunderstood by those that approach Bible Study with tunnel vision. They see only part of the picture. Those that come with a strong bias can easily take Paul out of context and mislead themselves. Paul lived in a complex doctrinal world and is a complex thinker. Those who do not comprehend the background issues that existed in Paul's world can easily misapply his doctrinal wisdom. Our world may make it harder to appreciate some of the subtleties of Paul. Peter said he was hard to be understood by those who are unlearned and unstable.
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (KJV)
Coming from our present misled world, many today are really unlearned regarding deep Bible teachings. We need to keep that in mind when we read a statement from Paul that seems shocking. Let us look at the scripture that can be misunderstood so easily by many. Most people are unlearned regarding the entire Bible. Further remember that only the Old Testament existed as the Bible when Peter wrote these words.
1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (KJV)
What did Paul really mean and what was the background to this particular problem in the city of Corinth for the believers ? Does this statement really teach that Christians do not have to keep any laws or follow any standards at all? Paul in the very lines preceding verse 12 shows that believers do have standards of conduct. They may be politically incorrect in today's society, but Paul states them clearly.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (KJV)
It is clear that Paul is telling them that they have or are in the process of repenting and overcoming all these human weaknesses. Those sins are in the past. So clearly he is not saying you have standards in verses 9 thru 11 but you can do anything you want. Paul is not contradicting himself in the very next verse, verse 12. What is Paul explaining to the Corinthians and what are their problems?
THE CORINTHIANS WERE KNOWN FOR EXCESSES
Even in the Roman Empire, Corinth was known for drunken orgies beyond the norm. They were also known as gluttons. Even among the decadent pagan world they were considered super decadent. A Greek theater play would have a Corinthian as the drunk. They were a stereotype of decadence. The term to 'Corinthianize' was proverbial for playing wanton. The temple of Venus was attended with shameless profligacy. The reputation of the city was of a place where people sunk to the lowest levels to satiate their lusts with regard to food, sex, power and prestige. This explains Paul's further statements to those living under such decadent influences.
1Co 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. {Meats: not flesh only, but food of any kind} (KJV)
Though eating is not against the law, gluttony is wrong. The word expedient, in verse 12, comes from the Greek word sumphero which means to be better for. Paul is saying everything within the law is proper but some things are better off not being done. Others if done need to be done with moderation for believers. Some used their liberty to offend or lead astray weaker brethren regarding meat offered to idols. The pagan world had two extremes asceticism and hedonism.
Epicurean self-indulgence led some to look for loop holes to misapply what is legal. The Elders wrote Paul to ask about eating meat in pagan temples and about celibacy and marriage and law suites. We can see they had a lot of conflict among the brethren. Corinth no doubt had both extremes, but excelled especially in the pagan world at hedonism.
Paul is saying honor the body you have because Christ died for you. Your body has importance because it is the host for God's Spirit. Gluttony is an example of not taking care of your body. Too much drinking is also included. When Paul said do not be brought under the power of any ( of these lusts) he was warning them of the real possibility of addictions beyond their control. Paul also is saying that if you allow these lusts and desires to go to extremes you will become addicted and be slaves to your out of control desires. Also he has to warn them about the worst sexual traps.
1Co 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (KJV)
Records show that Corinth had at a thousand temple prostitutes. It was also a sailors town as a major sea gate of the Aegean Sea. You can imagine the moral influences upon the believers in such a society. It is easy to understand the threat to the believers and why Paul had to warn them of such matters.
SPIRITUAL BALANCE IS DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN
Maintaining balance is a challenge for believers. We see it throughout the entire Bible. Some Corinthians used loopholes as they interpreted the law for dangerous excesses.
Ec 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? {destroy...: Heb. be desolate?} 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? (KJV)
Asceticism, a false overly picky, self righteous approach to religion is detrimental to people. The Hedonistic approach is even worse. God's Laws are good for people. So is applying Gods laws on personal desires.
Is our society becoming just as decadent as Corinth? Our future is clearly on such a trajectory. We must never forget that God's Laws properly applied make for a happier safer life.
Ps 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. {they...: Heb. it is ever with me} 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. {lamp: or, candle} (KJV)
Ps 1:1 Happy is the man who does not go in the company of sinners, or take his place in the way of evil-doers, or in the seat of those who do not give honour to the Lord. (BBE)
It is often hard for religious people stay balanced. The Jews drifted toward their version of asceticism and self righteousness with the leadership of the Pharisees. Some of the Corinthians were seduced to the other worst extreme, looking for loop holes to self justification of decadence. God wants us to learn to use the things of this world in a balanced manner. We should not deny self appropriate human sustenance in a self righteous attempt to prove how righteous we are, like the Pharisees did.
Mr 2:25 And he said to them, Have you no knowledge of what David did, when he had need and was without food, he, and those who were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and took for food the holy bread, which only the priests may take, and gave it to those who were with him? 27 And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath; (BBE)
Jesus criticized the Pharisees over regulation and inflexibility of the Sabbath which ruined the benefit of the Holy Day to believers. Paul explains to Corinthians that they needed to resist the other extreme of indulging our human lust using moderation in all things.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (KJV)
Paul tells them to strive for mastery with moderation and self control. He explains to us believers that we need to learn self control and contentment regardless of our circumstances.
Php 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)
A mature Christian learns to be content no matter the circumstances or the environment. This is true balance and maturity with the help of Christ. The Corinthians needed to learn that eating meat was not wrong but gluttony was dangerous. Further they needed to learn that alcohol is legal but not drunkenness and that sex is legal but only inside the safe confines of marriage and misuse of it is both physically and spiritually dangerous. They lived among great temptations and spiritual dangers. We are too!
