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 as to things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge about them. Knowledge however puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 If someone thinks that they know anything, they have not yet reached that knowledge which they ought to have reached.
And if any one be conceited of his knowledge, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 On the other hand, if a person loves God, they are known by God.
But if any man love God, he is owned 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.
As to the eating therefore of things sacrificed 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 be some that are called Gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are among the heathen gods many,
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).
and lords many, ) yet to us there is but one God the Father, from whom are all things, and we in 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 there is not in all men this knowledge: and some with a consciousness of the idol unto this day, eat it as a thing sacrificed to an idol, and so 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 does not recommend us to God; for neither, if we eat, are we the better; nor the worse, if we eat not.
9 But take care that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak.
But see that this liberty of yours be not by any means a stumbling-block to the 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 thee, who hast knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him that is weak be encouraged to eat of the things sacrificed to idols?
11 And so, through this knowledge of yours, the weak person is ruined – someone for whose sake Christ died!
and so the weak brother, for whom Christ died, shall perish by thy 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 in thus sinning against your brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ:
