The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 283

Ver. 9.-0ur dealings with weak brethren. Our liberty may become a stumbling- block to others, and against this we must be constantly on our guard. There will always be around us some "weak brethren." 1. They may be intellectually weak, really unable to grasp more than the simplicities of the truth, and readily thinking that what they can neither understand nor appreciate must be error. 'l'here is also such a thing as mental bias, which prevents men from appreciating or receiving more than some particular side of truth. And this mental bias is often the affliction of men who are otherwise intelligent; and it becomes the occasion of much religious bigotry. 2. They may be weak in conscience. Instead of firmly attesting what is right and what is wrong, tbeir conscience may only pre.sent scruples and questions and doubts. It is the same thing to say that they have little power of decision; and feel restless and uncertain, and weakly full of fears, when a decision is made. 3. They may be weak through the relics of old habits. A man cannot immediately separate himself from all his surroundings; and it was very difficult for Gentile Christians to shake off their heathen notions. Missionaries now, in heathen land~, are gravely perplexed by tho lingering sentiments and habits of their converts. And in Corinth many could not get out of the idea that meat offered to an idol must be defiled and unfit for their eating as Christians. So it may be shown that there are" weak brethren" with us still; some who are offended with higher truths, which they are intellectually unable to reach; others who have scruples about what is permissible to Christians in social life, and yet others who fix narrow limits to the observance of the sabbath, and other details of Christian conduct. Now, St. Paul lays down some of the principles on which we should deal with these "weak brethren." I. 'l'HE PRINCIPLE OF FIRMNESS, More especially if our brother's weakness in any way imperils the truth. Concessions to our weaker brethren may go to the fullest lengtb so long as they concern only oor personal relations with them. But we may concetl nothing if our brother's weakness puts in peril vital truth. Then wo must be firm and stand our ground, and claim our full liberty to receive whatever truth God may be pleased to give us. And it is even found, in practical life, that our brother's weakness in matters of detail is best met by a firm and intelligent resistance. We need to be especially careful that our dealings with our brethren shall in no way foster and encourage their weakness. Modes of keeping sabbath, or relations of Uhristians to public amusements, will furnish necessary illustrations, 11. 'l'rrn PRINCIPLE OF HELPFULNESS; wherever we stand in such relations to th0 en. vm. 1-13.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 285