The Abuse and Proper Use of the Apostolic Principle
C. Hodge, D.D. 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:… I. THE PRINCIPLE HAS OFTEN BEEN LAMENTABLY PERVERTED. 1. On the plea of becoming all things to all men, Christians are tempted into sinful conformity with the habits and amusements of the world. 2. On the same plea the Church of Rome adopted heathen rites, until the distinction between Paganism and Christianity was little more than nominal. Heathen temples were called churches; Pagan gods were baptized as saints, and honoured as before. II. THE APOSTLE SO ACTED AS TO PRESERVE THE CHURCH FROM EVERY TAINT OF EITHER PAGANISM OR JUDAISM. The rules which guided the apostles may be easily deduced from the conduct and epistles of Paul. 1. They accommodated themselves to Jewish or Gentile usages only in matters of indifference. 2. They abstained from all accommodation even in things indifferent, under circumstances which gave to those things a religious import. They allowed sacrifices to be eaten; but eating within a temple was forbidden. 3. They conceded when the concession was not demanded as a matter of necessity; but refused when it was so regarded. Paul said circumcision was nothing and uncircumcision was nothing; yet he resisted the circumcision of Titus when it was demanded by the Judaisers. 4. The object of their concessions was not to gain mere nominal converts, nor to do away with the offence of the Cross (Galatians 4:11), but to save men. No concession therefore, whether to the manners of the world or to the prejudices of the ignorant, can plead the sanction of apostolic example, which has not that object honestly in view. 5. It is included in the above particulars that Paul, in becoming all things to all men, never compromised any truth or sanctioned any error. (C. Hodge, D.D.). Parallel Verses KJV: Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: WEB: Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;