Canaan to Corinth

This sheds light on the idea of idolatry as a wrongful exchange of God for things in creation. Moses faced idolatry in Canaan and became the paradigm for Paul to deal with idolatry in Corinth. This examination clarifies the nature of the Apostolic Decree and the difference between "unclean food" and idol food" and further suggests the hypothesis that Paul did not consumption of food known to have consumption of food known to have been sacrificed to idols. . Quoting from the summary p. 199: "The three prohibitions, interpreted as universal aspects of the Mosaic law and as creation theology, are compatible with Paul's theology of a law-free gospel. They honor the Creator as the only God, the source of life and norms and relationships. Therefore, all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, are to abstain from idol food (food known to have been offered to idols in worship), from eating blood (meat from which the blood has not been drained when the animal was slaughtered), and from fornication (any sexual relationship outside of a legitimate marriage bond between a man and woman)." One may consume consume idol food innocently, but not consciously or deliberately, and all Christians are to thus flee from idolatry understanding the sanctity of the Lord's Table (altar). Indeed, this is different from the issue of 'unclean foods' or Jewish kosher laws (Mark 7:14-23; Rom 14:1-15:3) which--being rooted in the Mosaic covenant for Israel and not in the universal Noahic covenant--cannot be imposed on the gentiles. The manner of application of the Noahic covenant by all gentile believers is the focus of 1 Cor 8:1-9; 10:1-11:1.