1 Corinthians 8

1 Now about things offered to images: we all seem to ourselves to have knowledge. Knowledge gives pride, but love gives true strength.

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2 If anyone seems to himself to have knowledge, so far he has not the right sort of knowledge about anything;

But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

3 But if anyone has love for God, God has knowledge of him.

But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.

4 So, then, as to the question of taking food offered to images, we are certain that an image is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one.

5 For though there are those who have the name of gods, in heaven or on earth, as there are a number of gods and a number of lords,

For though there are things that are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many "gods" and many "lords;"

6 There is for us only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we are for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we have our being through him.

yet to us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus (the) Messiah, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

7 Still, all men have not that knowledge: but some, being used till now to the image, are conscious that they are taking food which has been offered to the image; and because they are not strong in the faith, their minds are troubled.

However, not all have this knowledge. But some, being so accustomed to idols until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8 But God's approval of us is not based on the food we take: if we do not take it we are no worse for it; and if we take it we are no better.

But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we do not eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

9 But take care that this power of yours does not give cause for trouble to the feeble.

But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.

10 For if a man sees you, who have knowledge, taking food as a guest in the house of an image, will it not give him, if he is feeble, the idea that he may take food offered to images?

For if someone sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

11 And so, through your knowledge, you are the cause of destruction to your brother, for whom Christ underwent death.

And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whom the Messiah died.

12 And in this way, doing evil to the brothers, and causing trouble to those whose faith is feeble, you are sinning against Christ.

Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Messiah.

13 For this reason, if food is a cause of trouble to my brother, I will give up taking meat for ever, so that I may not be a cause of trouble to my brother. (aiōn g165)

Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I do not cause my brother to stumble. (aiōn g165)