Eating Meat Sacrificed To Idols

Could I have some of that smoked salmon up front?

Meat sold in the marketplace was often offered to idols first.  There was an early Christian (and Jewish) debate whether one should eat meat in the market or not.  Jewish scholars eventually emphasized “kosher” or rabbinicly approved food.  But most Jews (and Christians) went one of two ways—re-blessing the food or refraining from all meat. 


Paul said that on the surface either way was fine, but that those who “re-blessed” shouldn’t cause those of the other group to sin by encouraging them to eat the meat (I Corinthians 8-10; Romans 14).  John is clearly of the other group, not wanting the people of God to be impure by taking part in idol worship.