Question:
Answer:
The Council of Florence in 1442 gave us the answer to this question in declaring the dietary decrees of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15:24-28 to be temporary. Of course, the decree against “fornication” was permanent. But with regard to the dietary rules, the council was dealing with a compromise of placing some “Jewish” dietary rules on the Gentile converts so that there could be harmony in the family of God. There was no problem mentioned of Gentiles wanting to worship an idol or to participate in the worship of an idol through eating the sacrifices offered to it. This was a purely pastoral matter that was solved, at least when it came to the dietary rules, through a dietary, non-dogmatic solution.
St. Paul was writing about fifteen years after the council where pastoral matters had changed in the Gentile Christian world. The Council’s concern for unity between Jews and Gentiles was far past. Matters had become much worse. In I Cor. 10:14-18, St. Paul warns: “Shun the worship of idols.” The council had not had to deal with idolatry. The Gentiles were newly converted and “on-fire” as the saying is today. But by the time Paul is writing I Corinthians, he had to sternly warn the Gentiles not to go back to the pagan sacrifices, much like the inspired author of Hebrews had to warn Jewish Christians not to be tempted to go back to the Temple, Old Covenant priesthood, sacrifices, etc. (cf. Heb. 6:4-6; 7:11-12; 10:25ff, etc.).
Thus, Paul was compelled to teach these Gentile Christians anew that the idol is nothing in and of itself along with its sacrifices (1 Cor. 8:4-8). Paul reminds them of the truth that there is only one true God and one Lord Jesus Christ (v. 6). One can eat or not eat, objectively speaking, and it matters not because in and of themselves they are nothing (v. 8). That in no way contradicts the council that was dealing with a different matter.
In the end, Paul used strong language in order to warn them that if they did choose to go back and offer sacrifices to their former gods, the sacrifices are nothing in and of themselves, and their gods do not exist. But he also warns them that they will be opening themselves up to demons in the process. Paul exhorts them to worship and receive Our Lord in the Eucharist, the only true worship of almighty God (cf. 1 Cor. 10:15-22). “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons” (v. 21).