Tag Archive for: Corinthians

You are here: / / Corinthians

Posts

2018, July 1 ~ Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; and 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

/in /by

Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24

The Book of Wisdom, also known as “The Wisdom of Solomon,” is not part of the “Canon” (accepted books) of the Hebrew Bible. It is, however, included as part of the Hebrew Scriptures in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church Bibles as “deutero-canonical” – part of a “second” Canon. In Protestant Bibles, Wisdom is not included in the Hebrew Scriptures but is part of the Apocrypha (“hidden books”).

This difference in treatment arises because in the period from 300 to 200 BCE, the existing Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek (the common language of the time). Compilations of these translations were called the “Septuagint.” The Book of Wisdom was included in most versions of the Septuagint, but this book (among others) was not included in the Canon of the Hebrew Bible (the “TaNaK”) when it was codified around 90 CE by the Pharisees/Rabbis after the Destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

Jerome included “Wisdom” and the other books that were part of the Septuagint in the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Hebrew and the Christian Scriptures around 405 CE). Jerome wrote prefaces to some books that they were not in the Jewish Canon of the Hebrew Bible. Later compilers overlooked Jerome’s prefaces, and the Council of Trent in 1546 decreed that the Roman Catholic Canon of the Old Testament included the books that were in the Septuagint.

Luther and other Protestants followed the Jewish Canon of the Hebrew Bible and put books from the Septuagint (such as Wisdom) in a separate section called the Apocrypha.

The Wisdom of Solomon purports to be written by Solomon (who reigned in Israel from 965 to 930 BCE). It was actually written by an anonymous Hellenistic Jew in the late First Century BCE or the early First Century CE. The author’s intent was to show the superiority of Judaism in terms that were relevant to persons familiar with Greek philosophy. For this reason, there is an emphasis on Platonic ideas such as immortality and the guiding force of Sophia (Wisdom).

Today’s reading (v.14) refers to Hades, the Greek abode of the dead (“Sheol” in Judaism) and affirms that “righteousness” (right relation with God, others and the world) is immortal.

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Based on internal references in the two remaining letters to the Corinthians, scholars agree that Paul likely wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians. The so-called Second Letter to the Corinthians is composed of fragments of these letters.

Today’s reading contains part of Paul’s exhortation to Jesus Followers in Corinth to give generously to a collection Paul was taking up on behalf of the Jerusalem church. Chapter 9 repeats much of Chapter 8 and may be from a different letter making the same appeal for the poor in Jerusalem.

2018, June 24 ~ Job 38:1-11 and 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

/in /by

Job 38:1-11

The Book of Job is a unique poetic story in the Hebrew Scriptures. Job is a righteous person (in right relation with God and others) and is presented as a non-Jew living in the land of Uz (somewhere in what is now Saudi Arabia).

Satan (the “adversary” – not the post-First Century name of the devil) makes a wager with God that Job is righteous only because he has health, family and riches. Satan bets God that Job will curse God if he loses his family, health and wealth.

Satan takes everything from Job, but Job does not curse God. His friends come to “comfort” him and (using typical Deuteronomic thought) tell him that his deprivations must be the result of a sin by him or his forebears. Job denies this and (contrary to the claim in the traditional translation of Jas. 5:11) is anything but “patient.” He “endures,” is steadfast and in some respects, defiant. He asks for someone to judge whether a God who causes a person to suffer is really a just God. He asks to confront God face-to-face.

Today’s reading is the beginning of a four-chapter “response” by God to Job. The “response” is structured by the author (called “Poet-Job”) as a series of questions from God to Job that demonstrate the complexity of created reality, an imaginative inspection of the cosmos.

After the theophany (the appearance of God to Job), Job acknowledges his limitations. In a later-added Epilogue, Job’s riches are restored, and he had another family.

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Based on internal references in the two remaining letters to the Corinthians, scholars agree that Paul likely wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians. The so-called Second Letter to the Corinthians is composed of fragments of these letters.

Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians was sometimes strained (2:2-4). Today’s reading continues Paul’s defense of his ministry (v.3). He enumerates his sufferings (v.4-5), defends his works (v.6-7), and counters charges against him (v.8-10). He claims that his affection for the Corinthians is unrestricted, but the affections of the Corinthians are limited (v.11).

2018, June 17 ~ Ezekiel 17:22-24 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

/in /by

Ezekiel 17:22-24

Ezekiel is one of the three “Major” Prophets – so called because of the length of the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a priest who was among the first group of persons deported by the Babylonians when they captured Jerusalem in 597 BCE.

The Book of Ezekiel is in three parts: (1) Chapters 1 to 24 are prophesies of doom against Jerusalem before the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE; (2) Chapters 25 to 32 are prophesies against foreign nations; and (3) Chapters 33 to 48 are prophesies of hope for the Judeans written during the Babylonian Exile (586-539 BCE).

Similar to other prophets, Ezekiel “prophesies” by speaking for God. Prophesy in the Hebrew Bible is not about telling the future. A prophet is one who speaks for YHWH.

In the first part of Chapter 17, Ezekiel spoke an allegory on behalf of YHWH telling that Judea and its king would be defeated by the Babylonians and taken to Babylon. In today’s verses, Ezekiel continued to speak for YHWH who would take a sprig from a cedar tree (v.22) and plant it so that it would grow to a mighty cedar (v.23).

Ezekiel (in today’s reading), Isaiah (Ch.11) and Jeremiah (Ch.23) all used the metaphor of a twig or a branch of a tree as a symbol of the Messiah that was to come.

2 Corinthians 5:6-17

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Based on internal references in the two remaining letters to the Corinthians, scholars agree that Paul likely wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians. The so-called Second Letter to the Corinthians is composed of fragments of these letters.

Today’s reading reflects the multiple components in this letter. In the first part of today’s reading, Paul spoke of his desire to be “at home with the Lord” (v.8) and noted that the body is a barrier to being with Christ more perfectly – it keeps one “away from the Lord” (v.6).

In the second part of today’s reading, Paul discussed his relationship with the Corinthians – a relationship that was sometimes painful for both Paul and the Corinthians (2:1-2). He expressed hope that he was well known to the Corinthians’ consciences (v.11) but declined from “commending ourselves” to them (v.12).

In the last part of today’s reading, Paul shifts his message to convey the idea that if one is “in Christ” they are a “new creation” (v.17).

2018, June 10~ Genesis 3:8-15 and 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

/in /by

Genesis 3:8-15

Genesis is the first book of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). The Torah also called the Pentateuch (five books) in Greek. Genesis covers the period from Creation to the deaths of Jacob and his 11th son, Joseph, in about 1,650 BCE, if the accounts are historical.

The Book of Genesis (like the Torah as a whole) is an amalgam of religious traditions, some of which are dated by scholars to about 950 BCE and some of which were developed as late as 450 BCE. Since the late 19th Century, Biblical scholars have recognized four major “strands” or sources in the Torah, and these sources are identified (among other ways) by their different theological emphases, names for God, names for the holy mountain, and portrayals of God’s characteristics.

Today’s reading is part of the Second Account of Creation that begins in Gen. 2:4. The Second Account is attributed to the “Jahwistic” Source and is generally dated to about 950 BCE. This Source presents God’s name as YHWH (translated as LORD or LORD God) and gives God many anthropomorphic qualities such as speaking with humans.

Among the negative consequences of their disobedience are the man and the woman’s sense of separation from YHWH (they hid themselves in v. 8), vulnerability (sense of their nakedness in v.10) and failing to accept responsibility for one’s actions (the man blamed the woman and the woman blamed the serpent in verses 13 and 14).

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Based on internal references in the two letters to the Corinthians which remain, scholars agree that Paul likely wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians. The so-called Second Letter to the Corinthians is composed of fragments of these letters.

In today’s reading, Paul used dualistic language that would have been characteristic of Hellenistic thought to reflect the tension between present afflictions and inner renewal (vv. 16-18). Paul emphasized that we will also be raised (v.14) just as Jesus was raised and will be with God in an eternal “house” (5:1).

2018, June 3 ~ Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

/in /by

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Deuteronomy is the fifth (and last) book of the Torah and is presented as Moses’ final speech to the Israelites just before they entered the Promised Land. “Deuteronomy” comes from Greek words that mean “Second Law” and is structured as a “restatement” of the laws found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Parts of it were revised as late as 450 BCE, but the bulk of the book is generally dated to the reign of King Josiah of Judea (640-609 BCE).

Today’s reading is the part of the Deuteronomic version of the Decalogue (the “Ten Words” or the “Ten Commandments”). Another version is in Exodus 20:2-17.

Today’s verses are about keeping the Sabbath and are the same as in Exodus 2:8-11, except for the reason for keeping the Sabbath. The Exodus version (Ex. 20:11) shows the influence of the priestly writers. The Sabbath is to be observed because (as stated at the end of the First Creation Story in Gen. 2:2-3) God (“Elohim”) rested on the seventh day and consecrated it.

In Deuteronomy, however, the reason for observing the Sabbath is because YHWH brought the people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and commanded them to keep the Sabbath (v.15).

Because the First Creation Story was likely written during or after the Babylonian Exile (587-539 BCE), the Deuteronomic version of this part of the Decalogue is likely older than the version in Exodus.

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Based on internal references in the two letters to the Corinthians which remain, scholars agree that Paul likely wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians. The so-called Second Letter to the Corinthians is likely composed of fragments of these letters.

In today’s reading, Paul emphasizes that when we suffer, the life of Jesus can be known through us. Paul makes clear that we are not “proclaiming ourselves” but are proclaiming that Jesus the Christ is LORD (v.5).

2018, April 1 ~ Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 25:6-9; and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

/in /by

Acts 10:34-43

The book called “The Acts of the Apostles” was written around 85 to 90 CE by the anonymous author of the Gospel According to Luke. The first 15 chapters of Acts are a didactic “history” of the early Jesus Follower Movement starting with the Ascension. The last 13 chapters describe Paul’s Missionary Journeys – not always consistently with Paul’s letters.

The Gospel According to Luke and Acts of the Apostles see the Holy Spirit as the driving force for all that happens. The events surrounding today’s reading exemplify this.

Peter’s speech (today’s reading) is part of the story of the conversion of Cornelius the Centurion and is a synopsis of the major themes in the Gospel According to Luke. In the conversion story, an angel told Cornelius to ask Peter to see him. Peter was moved by the Holy Spirit, went to Cornelius, gave his speech, and the Holy Spirit “fell upon all who heard the word” (v. 44). The conversion of the Gentile, Cornelius, by the power of the Holy Spirit was a key element in the so-called Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) where it was decided that Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism (by a kosher diet and circumcision) to become Jesus Followers.

Isaiah 25:6-9

The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were written in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and gives encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.

Today’s reading is a part of the Book called the “Isaiah Apocalypse” (Chapters 24 to 27). Chapter 24 describes great destruction, but the next three chapters speak of an “eschatological” (end of times as we know them) renewal and restoration. Today’s verses told of a banquet on the holy mountain for those who trusted in YHWH. This image was closely linked in Ancient Israel with an expected Messiah through whom YHWH would swallow up death forever.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Today’s reading presents a number of interpretive issues. When Paul says Christ died “for” our sins (v. 3) does he mean “because of” or “on account of” or “to atone for”? In 1 Cor. 15:44, Paul speaks of the resurrected body as a “spiritual body.” In today’s reading, is the appearance to Cephas (Peter), the 12, the 500, James (Jesus’ brother) and lastly to Paul, a “physical” or a “spiritual” appearance? Nowhere in the Christian Scriptures is there a claim that any appearance of the resurrected Christ to Paul (including the three accounts of the Damascus Road Experience) was a “physical” appearance. Does this mean the other appearances (Peter, the 12, the 500 and James) were also of a “spiritual body”? Paul seems to assert that the appearance to him of the resurrected Christ was of the same type as the appearances to others.

2018, March 4 ~ Exodus 20:1-17 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

/in /by

Exodus 20:1-17

The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Torah/Pentateuch, and covers the period from the slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh (around 1250 BCE, if the account is historical), the Exodus itself, and the early months in the Wilderness.

Today’s reading is set at Mount Sinai (“Horeb” in other parts of Exodus and in Deuteronomy) during the time in the Wilderness. In it, YHWH (“LORD” in all capital letters in the NRSV) gave the Decalogue – the ten “words” (v.1) – often called the Ten Commandments.

The structure of the Decalogue was a covenant: YHWH recounted what had been done for the Israelites (v.2) and then directed reciprocal obligations of the Israelites (v. 3-17). Because Ancient Israel was a patriarchal society, the 10 words were addressed to men (in the second person singular), and wives “belonged to” men, just as are houses, slaves, animals and other items (v.17). Each of the “words” is absolute and unconditional.

This is one of three versions of the Decalogue and is called the “Priestly Decalogue” because it refers to the Priestly account of creation in which God rested on the seventh day. Other versions of the Decalogue appear in Exodus 34:11-26 (the “Ritual Decalogue”) and in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. In the Deuteronomic version, wives do not “belong” to men (Dt. 5:21), and the rationale for observing the Sabbath is the liberation from Egypt rather than God’s resting on the seventh day of creation.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. In addition to Paul, other Jesus Followers taught in Corinth, sometimes in ways inconsistent with Paul’s understandings of what it meant to be a Jesus Follower. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

In today’s reading, Paul continued his criticism of the “wisdom of the world” and asserted that “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom” (v.25). He explained that selfless love (the cross) is foolishness to those who rely on the wisdom of the world (v. 18, 20). God’s wisdom (v. 21) is the plan of salvation, and includes the crucifixion of the Christ/Messiah/Anointed One of God. For Jews, a crucified Messiah was indeed a “stumbling block” (v. 23), and it was also inconsistent with the secular wisdom of the Greeks.

2018, February 11 ~ 2 Kings 2:1-12 and 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

/in /by

2 Kings 2:1-12

The Book of Kings is part of the “Deuteronomic History” that includes the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. These books are a didactic history of Ancient Israel from the time in the Wilderness (c. 1250 BCE) to the Babylonian Captivity in 587 BCE. They emphasize that God controls history, and when the people (and their kings) worship Yahweh properly, good things happen to them. When the kings and people worship false gods, however, bad events overtake them.

Today’s story recounts the succession of the prophet Elijah by his faithful disciple, Elisha, who asks for a “double share” (the share of an oldest son) of Elijah’s spirit (v.9). According to Biblical chronology, the events took place about 840 BCE, after the reigns of Ahab and two kings who followed him.

The account has a number of parallels to the stories of Moses and his successor, Joshua. Elijah and Elisha crossed from the west bank of the Jordan River to the east bank (v.8), just as Moses and Joshua crossed the Sea of Reeds. After Elijah was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot (v.11), Elisha parted the Jordan and crossed to the west side just as Joshua did (v.14).

Because Elijah was raised to heaven, his return to earth is seen as a harbinger of the coming of the Messiah. A place/chair for Elijah is left open at table (and often the doors of homes are left open) at Passover Seders in the event Elijah might return that night. In many ways, John the Baptist is portrayed as an Elijah-like figure in the Gospels.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Paul’s controversies with the Corinthians continued, and he wrote a number of letters to them. The Second Letter is a composite of fragments from these letters. In the Second Letter, Paul countered some Jewish Jesus Followers who were disagreeing with Paul and undermining his authority.

In today’s reading, Paul’s reference to “the god of this world” (v.4), meant the Roman authorities as well as the secular wisdom of the age. Paul affirmed that Jesus the Christ is the “image of God” (v.4) and the “Lord” (v.5). Paul paraphrased part of the First Creation Story of Genesis regarding the creation of light and said that the light of the knowledge of God is found in Jesus the Christ (v.6).

2018, February 4 ~ Isaiah 40:21-31; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

/in /by

Isaiah 40:21-31

The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and called for Jerusalem to repent in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55 and brought hope to the Judeans during the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they had suffered enough and would return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and, for the most part, gave encouragement to Judeans who returned to Jerusalem (which had been largely destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BCE) after the Exile.

Today’s reading is from the first chapter from “Second Isaiah.” The chapter that tells the Judeans they have “paid their penalty” (v.2) and reassures them that YHWH (translated as the “LORD” in all capital letters) is the creator of the universe and has power over all nations. Accordingly, YHWH will restore them to Jerusalem. This presentation of YHWH as a cosmic god for all peoples is a shift from the understanding of YHWH as a “national god” only for Israel.

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

In today’s reading, Paul emphasized that his preaching of the gospel is an “obligation laid on me” (v.16) – just as prophets were “required” to speak the word of God. He then continued to urge the Corinthians to rise above their own sense of “liberty” (freedom from the constraints of ordinary human affairs because of secular wisdom) so that the Corinthians could participate fully in the gospel of love and enable others to participate also.

Paul said that to spread the gospel he became “as a Jew,” “as one under the law,” and as one “outside the law” (v.20-21). Paul was referring to Jews, “God Fearers” who were not Jews but who observed some of the Jewish Law, and Gentiles. Paul stated, in effect, that he empathetically presented the gospel in terms with which each group might resonate. His statement that he “became weak” and “became all things to all people” (v.22) reflects his empathetic presentation of the gospel. The reference to “the weak” also related back to the last part of Chapter 8 in which Paul urged the Corinthians not to eat meat sacrificed to idols if this would cause someone whose conscience is weak to fall (8:10-13).

2018, January 28 ~ Deuteronomy 18:15-20; and 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

/in /by

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Deuteronomy is the fifth (and last) book of the Torah and is presented as Moses’ final speech to the Israelites just before they entered the Promised Land. “Deuteronomy” comes from Greek words that mean “Second Law” and is structured as a “restatement” of the laws found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Parts of it were revised as late as 450 BCE, but the bulk of the book is generally dated to the reign of King Josiah of Judea (640-609 BCE).

In today’s reading, Moses tells the Israelites that YHWH will raise up a prophet “like me” [Moses] as requested by the people at Horeb (the Deuteronomists’ name for Mount Sinai). Moses “recounts” that YHWH told him that YHWH would put words in the prophet’s mouth and the prophet would speak in YHWH’s name (v.18).

These verses in Deuteronomy formed the basis for the vision that the Messiah would be a prophet and the “New Moses.” This vision was one among many different visions of the Messiah in circulation in the First Century, including the “New David,” the suffering servant, the Paschal Lamb, the Son of Man, and the New High Priest.

The Gospel According to Matthew specifically presented Jesus of Nazareth as the New Moses. This Gospel contains stories about Jesus that are not in any other Gospels and are direct parallels to stories about Moses in the Hebrew Bible. For example, by unusual means, Moses and Jesus avoided death at the hands of rulers who tried to kill all the male infants (Pharaoh and Herod). Moses and Jesus both left Egypt for the Promised Land under God’s protection. Moses went up on the mountain (Sinai or Horeb) to obtain the Law, and Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount to fulfill the Law.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

In today’s reading, it is difficult to know exactly when Paul is quoting Hellenistic/Corinthian “knowledge” and whether he is quoting it approvingly or not. (Quotation marks were unknown in the First Century; the early predecessors to quotation marks were not used until the 3rd or 4th Century CE. Quotation marks as we know them were developed in the 17th Century.)

In Corinth, sacrificing meat to idols was a normal part of the social fabric. Paul walked a fine line: he did not forbid Corinthians from eating this meat, but he cautioned Jesus Followers that if they ate meat sacrificed to idols, this might harm those who did not fully understand that “no idol in the world really exists” (v.4) and for whom eating meat sacrificed to idols was a “stumbling block” (v.9). Paul admonished that wounding the conscience of one who is weak in this matter would be a sin against the Christ (v.12).