1 Corinthians 8
1 With reference to food that has been offered in sacrifice to idols – We are aware that all of us have knowledge! Knowledge breeds conceit, while love builds up character.
Now, with respect to meats offered to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up with pride, but love edifies.
2 If someone thinks that they know anything, they have not yet reached that knowledge which they ought to have reached.
If any one thinks that he knows any thing, he knows nothing yet, as he ought to know it:
3 On the other hand, if a person loves God, they are known by God.
but if any one loves God, he is taught by him).
4 With reference, then, to eating food that has been offered to idols – we are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.
With respect, then, to the eating of meats offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
5 Even supposing that there are so-called “gods” either in heaven or on earth – and there are many such “gods” and “lords” –
For though there are those which are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are many gods, and many lords, )
6 Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things come (and for him we live), and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come (and through him we live).
yet to us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Still, it is not everyone that has this knowledge. Some people, because of their association with idols, continued down to the present time, eat the food as food offered to an idol; and their consciences, while still weak, are dulled.
But all have not this knowledge; for some, under the persuasion that an idol is a reality, even yet eat meat, as if it were offered to an idol, and their conscience being weak, is defiled.
8 What we eat, however, will not bring us nearer to God. We lose nothing by not eating this food, and we gain nothing by eating it.
But meat commends us not to God; for, neither if we eat are we better, nor, if we eat not, are we worse.
9 But take care that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak.
But take heed, lest, by any means, this right of yours become a stumbling-block to those who are weak.
10 For if someone should see you who possess this knowledge, feasting in an idol’s temple, will not their conscience, if they are weak, become so hardened that they, too, will eat food offered to idols?
For, if any one see you, who have knowledge, reclining at table in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened, so that he will eat meats offered to idols?
11 And so, through this knowledge of yours, the weak person is ruined – someone for whose sake Christ died!
and will not the weak brother, for whom Christ died, perish through your knowledge?
12 In this way, by sinning against your fellow followers of the Lord and injuring their consciences, while still weak, you sin against Christ.
But if you sin in this way against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
