Homilies on First Corinthians

“If one of them that believe not bids you,” says he, “to a feast, and you are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.”

See again his moderation. For he did not command and make a law that they should withdraw themselves, yet neither did he forbid it. And again, should they depart, he frees them from all suspicion. Now what may be the account of this? That so great curiousness might not seem to arise from any fear and cowardice. For he who makes scrupulous enquiry does so as being in dread: but he who, on hearing the fact, abstains, abstains as out of contempt and hatred and aversion. Wherefore Paul, purposing to establish both points, says, “Whatsoever is set before you, eat.”