David Couchman
David Couchman produces the 'Seize the Day' and Slipstream podcasts and edits the 'Facing the Challenge' courses. More...

Phil Prior talking to David about Focus's vision

Meat sacrificed to idols in Corinth

The church that Paul founded at Corinth was one of his most successful. And yet they were in a large city surrounded by immorality and idol worship. One of the problems that plagued the church was how to relate to the pagan idol worshippers who surrounded them. (Many of the church members had become followers of Christ out of such a background.) For example, was it alright for them to share a meal with the pagans? Often, the meat involved in the meal would have been sacrificed to idols first. So did sharing a meal amount to taking part in idol-worship? They wrote to ask Paul, and he replied in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 8 verses 1-13.

Archaeologists have discovered dining rooms in the temples of Asclepius and Demeter at Corinth. They have also found an inscription identifying the local meat market. (See 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verses 25-29).

Yet again, archaeology provides a wealth of background confirmation of the historical accuracy of the Bible's record.

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