Meat Market

On the right side of the picture is the temple to Apollo. In the middle is a road with a building on the right (the black rectangle is the doorway; a tree stands next to it). Along the road was a stoa (portico) which housed an agora (market). Even though the old part of the city was only about 300 meters long on each side, there were three markets and nearly 10 temples (in addition to main governmental buildings). The temples and the markets, some of which sold meat, were located right next door to each other.

Often food was sacrificed to the gods in temples. Part of the animal was burned as a sacrifice and the rest (the edible meat) was eaten by people participating in a meal. Some of the meat would also be sold in the meat markets across the streets.

How are the meat markets significant for understanding the world of Paul?

The meat market created two problems for the Christians in Corinth. Some of the Christians were wealthy enough to attend these sacrificial meals at the temples. Under the thought that “we know that "an idol in this world is nothing," and that "there is no God but one,” they thought they could eat the food sacrificed to the gods (Paul quotes the Corinthians' own words in his letter; 1 Corinthians, chapter 8:4).

For those of all classes, the question of eating meat from the meat markets came up. Could they eat meat that may or may not have been sacrificed to idols?

The close proximity of the meat markets and the meat meals at the temples proved a vexing issue for Paul and the Christians at Corinth.

How is Paul confronting his culture?

Paul makes an extended argument in his first letter (3 chapters) about the nature of Christian freedom to argue that Christians could not participate in pagan sacrificial meals and the communion:

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons (Chapter 10:21)

However, on the question of the food at the market (which might have been served anywhere in town!), Paul gives something of a green light.

If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake [their] conscience -- (Chapter 10:27-28).

Here Paul is threading the needle, trying to give Christians guidance on this tricky issue.

source:
info on meat markets:  Hays, Richard.  First Corinthians, Interpretation, a Commentary.  Nashville:  Westminster, 1997.