v1-3: Paul introduces a new section, to 11.1, concerning "food sacrificed to idols".

Paul begins with the vital principle of love, the deliberate doing good for others. This is the essential characteristic of the Christian (Col 3.14). Love for others is fully consistent with love for God (v3).

In Corinth, knowledge was regarded as important. In the church there was the knowledge that an idol was nothing (v4). Thus, many sought knowledge. But that could lead to pride and selfishness, and hence the command to love. There is also the command to show humility (v2).

v4: In context, where idolatry was common, meat that had been offered to idols was sold in the market (10.25). Doubtless Christians ate this meat. Some knew that "an idol is nothing", and happily ate the meat. Others (v7) stumbled over the issue. There was therefore a problem, and possibly a division, in the church over the issue. The church sought Paul's advice.

Paul's primary concern is to promote love and humility. He also brings to bear teaching on the issue, that all might grow mature. Where we seek to know the mind of God, we must then obey what we receive from God.

The truth is that there is one true God, and that an idol is nothing. We trust in God, and do not fear idols.

v5-6: Even if people speak of idols and "lords", and worship them, for Christians there is one God who we worship, and one Lord Jesus Christ. Such knowledge brings liberty, but the danger is that one man's liberty can cause another to stumble.

'Christian affirmations about the uniqueness of Christ arise from their relationship to the claims and presuppositions that are made by persons of other faiths for theirs. Essentially, there are no real grounds for affirming the uniqueness of Christ where there are no alternatives to be taken seriously.' (Kwame Bediako, Jesus and the Gospel in Africa).

v7: Paul refers to some who lacked this knowledge. They have a consciousness of idols, because they used to worship idols. Their conscience is weak and easily offended. Whilst they would not eat meat that had been offered to idols, they would be offended at those who do. They genuinely think they have offended God, and therefore feel guilty and possibly critical of others.

v8: Another issue of knowledge, that food, being a physical thing, cannot bring us nearer to God, nor can it turn us from God.

v9: Those who rejoice in a fuller liberty in Christ have a responsibility to consider others; such is the attitude of love that Paul commends.

v10: "In an idol's temple"; probably not literally meant to refer to the temple, but rather to the meat market, which those with a weaker conscience thought to be a place of idolatry.

v11: Without proper thought and consideration another brother can be "destroyed"; this is therefore a serious matter.

v12: The result too, "you sin against Christ", by failing to consider others.

v13: Paul's conclusion; our behaviour must be thoughtful in relation to others. We must sacrifice our own freedoms that others be protected and strengthened. Later, Paul says that love is not "self-seeking".