Canaan to Corinth: Paul Doctrine of God and the Issue of Food Offered to Idols in 1 Corinthians 8:1?1:1

Canaan to Corinth raises important questions dealing with the nature of food and its relationship to idolatry in 1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1. What is the nature of food sacrificed to idols? Are Christians allowed to eat it? The Corinthians asked Paul, and he searched the Old Testament for his answer in the doctrine of God. This shed 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 teach or practice the conscious consumption of food known to have been sacrificed to idols.

"Canaan to Corinth is a careful, up-to-date study that takes one through the interpretive and theological steps to sort out the advice Paul gives about how to be faithful to God, exercise the freedom Scripture does give to Christians, and yet appreciate the real danger idolatry brings to one's walk with God. Michael Li-Tak Shen takes us through the passages, views, and debates a step at a time, as well as treating the relevant historical background. It is a solid guide to the issues of the text as well as a gateway to proper application. There is much to learn here." Darrell L. Bock, Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

"Michael Li-Tak Shen carefully examines the biblical view of God's absolute uniqueness, and argues that the biblical texts are consistent in their prohibition of idolatry and its paraphernalia in whatever form---a helpful point in similar pastoral situations today in a world of idols, ideologies, addictions, and runaway consumerism. The high view of the absolute nature of God warns against lax and mistaken notions of so-called Christian freedom." Robert Solomon, Bishop, the Methodist Church in Singapore.

Michael Li-Tak Shen received his Ph.D. in Bible exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He has been teaching at the Singapore Bible College, where he has also served as principal.