Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians to us otherwise than by the word (1 Timothy 4:5.) If that word is wanting, there remains nothing but pollution — not that the creatures of God are polluted, but because man's use of them is impure. In fine, as men's hearts are purified by faith, so without faith there is nothing that is pure in the sight of God.
1 Corinthians 8:8-13
1 Corinthians 8:8-13 8. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
8. Atqui esca nos non commendat Deo: neque si comedamus, abundamus, neque si non comedamus, deficimur aliquo.
9. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
9. Sed videte, ne quo modo facultas haec vestra offendiculo sit infirmis. 10. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
10. Si quis enim videat to, utcunque scientiam habeas, in epulo simulacrorum accumbentem; nonne conscientia eius, quum tamen infirmus sit, aedificabitur ad edendum quae sunt idolis immolata?
11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
11. Et peribit frater, qui infirmus est, in tua scientia, propter quem Christus mortuus est?
12. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
12. Sic autem peccantes in fratres, et vuluerantes conscientiam illorum infirmam, in Christum peccatis.
13. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
13. Quapropter si esca offendit fratrem meum, nequaquam vescar carnibus in aeternum, ne fratri meo sim offendiculo.
8. Meat recommendeth us not to God This was, or may have been, another pretext made use of by the Corinthians — that the worship of God does not consist in meats, as Paul himself teaches in his Epistle to the Romans, (Romans 14:17,) that the kingdom of God is not meat or drink Paul answers: "We must at the same time take care that our liberty does not do injury to our neighbors." In this he tacitly acknowledges, that in the sight of God it matters not what kinds of food we partake of, because he allows us the free use of them, so far as conscience is concerned; but that this liberty, as to the external use of it, is made subject to love. The argument of the Corinthians, therefore, was defective, inasmuch as they inferred the whole from a part, for