SECTION 37.

- 1 Corinthians 8:11

The
CAUSE OF GOD AND TRUTH.
Part 1
Section 37—1 Corinthians 8:11.
And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

These words are commonly joined with the former, and produced for the same purposes, both to prove that Christ
died for such as perish, and that true believers may totally and finally fall away.[1] What has been said under the
preceding section, might be sufficient to lead us into the true sense of this text, which is parallel with the other, and so
remove any argument or objection taken from hence. But not to let it pass without particular examination, let it be
observed;
1. That as the text in Romans 14:15, is a dehortation, or an injunction not to destroy him with meat, for whom
Christ died; this is delivered out in the form of all interrogation; and neither the one nor the other prove matter of fact,
supposing they could be understood of eternal destruction and ruin; as that any one brother, who was a true believer,
was destroyed, or perished eternally this way; and at most, only imply the danger and possibility thereof, through their
own corruptions, Satan’s temptations, and the offenses given by stronger brethren; were they not preserved by the
grace and power of God, through Christ, who died for them, and so will not suffer them to perish.
2. The perishing of this weak brother, is to be understood of, and is explained by, a defiling of his conscience (v. 7);
a wounding of it (v. 12); and making him to offend, (v. 13), by the imprudent abuse of Christian liberty in those who
had stronger faith, and greater knowledge, and by a participation in things offered to idols, in an idol’s temple (vv. 7,
10); and not of his eternal damnation in hell, which could never enter into the apostle’s thoughts; since he says (v. 8),
Meat commendeth us not to God; for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
Hence we have no need to return for answer, to arguments formed on these texts; that these weak brethren, of whom it
is supposed that they might perish, being under a profession of religion, men were obliged, from a judgment of
charity, to believe that Christ died for them, though he might not, or that others may be said to destroy, or cause them
to perish, though their destruction followed not; because they did all that in them lay towards it, and what in its own
nature tended to it; and therefore we are not concerned with the replies made unto such answers, which we shall not
undertake to defend.
3. This text proves, that Christ died for weak brethren, whose consciences may be defiled, wounded, and offended,
through the liberty others might take, and in this sense, perish; but does not prove that Christ died for any besides his
sheep, his church; or those who are eventually true believers; for which the Remonstrants[2] cite it; for surely a
brother who is truly one, though weak, is a sheep of Christ, a member of his church, and a believer; and therefore can
be no instance of Christ’s dying for any reprobates, and still less for all mankind.
4. Such for whom Christ died, can never finally, totally, and eternally perish; since he has, by his death, procured
such blessings for them, as a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, peace with God, reconciliation to him, and
eternal salvation; which will for ever secure them from perishing. Besides, should any of them perish in this sense, his
death would be so far in vain; nor could the death of Christ be thought to be a sufficient security from condemnation;
whereas the apostle says, Who shall condemn? it is Christ that died: nor a full satisfaction to the justice of God; or
God must be unjust to punish twice for the same faults.

ENDNOTES:

[1] Whitby, p. 138, 436, 442; ed. 2. 135, 425,431.

[2] In Coll. Hag. art. 2, p. 173.

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SECTION 37. - 1 Corinthians 8:11

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