< 哥林多前書 8 >
1 至論祭邪神的肉,我們知道「我們都有知識。」但知識只會使人傲慢自大,愛德才能立人。
Now [I will answer what you asked] about [us believers] eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. [We know what some of you say, that God has enabled] all of us [to] know [the truth about things such as idols. But often we become] proud because we say that we know [all those things]. But instead of being proud about what we know, we should show that we love [our fellow believers by helping them to] become spiritually mature.
2 若人自以為知道什麼,這是他還不知道他該怎樣知道。
Those who think that they thoroughly know something do not yet know it as they should.
But as for those who love God, they know that they belong to him.
4 至論吃祭邪神的肉,我們知道:世上並沒有什麼邪神;也知道:除了一個天主外,沒有什麼神。
So [I will tell you] about eating meat that people have sacrificed to idols. We know that it is true, [as you say], that idols are not really alive. We also know that there is only one real God.
5 因為雖然有稱為神的,或在天上,或在地下,就如那許多「神」和許多「主,」
It is true that there are gods whom people think live in the heavens or whom they think live on earth. Truly, there are many beings that [people] call gods, and whom [they] call lords.
6 可是為我們只有一個天主,就是聖父,萬物都出於祂,而我們也歸於祂;也只有一個主,就是耶穌基督,萬物藉祂而有,我們也藉祂而有。
But for us [believers] there is only one real God. He is [our heavenly] Father who created everything. He is the one whom we [worship and serve]. Also, for us believers Jesus Christ is the one and only Lord. He is the one whom [God caused] to create everything. It is because of what he [has done for us on the cross] that we have [spiritual] life.
7 不過這種知識不是人人都有的;有些人直到如今因拜慣了邪神,以為所吃的是祭邪神的肉,因為他們的良心軟弱,就受了玷污。
Nevertheless, some people do not understand [that idols are not really alive]. In the past, some among you who are believers now were accustomed to believing that idols [were really alive]. As a result, when they eat such meat [now], they still think that it was sacrificed to an idol [that is alive]. They are not sure [that God allows believers to eat meat that has been offered to idols]. So, [when they eat such meat], they think that they have sinned.
8 其實,食物不能使我們取悅天主:我們不吃也無損,吃了也無益。
But God will not think more highly about us [if we eat certain] foods, or if we do not eat [certain foods]. That is, we are not more acceptable to God if we do not eat certain foods, nor are we more acceptable to him if we eat those foods.
9 但你們要慬慎,免得你們這自由的決擇,成了軟人的絆腳石。
However, be sure that you do not do anything that God allows you to do, if by doing that you would encourage any of [your fellow believers to do something that] they are not sure [God allows them to do]. As a result, you would be causing them to sin.
10 因為,如果有人看見你們這有知識的,在邪神廟裏坐席,他的良心若是軟弱,豈不受到鼓勵而去吃祭邪神的肉嗎?
For example, you know [that idols are not really alive]. Suppose that in a temple [where they worship] idols you eat [food that has been sacrificed to idols]. Suppose that someone who is not sure whether God allows us to eat that food sees you eating it. [You] would be encouraging him to eat it, too. [RHQ]
11 那麼這軟弱的人,基督為他而死的弟兄,也就因了你的知識而喪亡!
As a result, you who know that [idols are not really alive], might cause that fellow believer, one for whom Christ died, (to be ruined [spiritually]/to stop believing [in Christ]).
12 你們這樣得罪了修士們,了傷了他們軟弱的良心,就是得罪基督。
By sinning against your fellow believer by causing him to do something that he thinks God does not allow us to do, [it is as though] you are sinning against Christ himself!
13 為此,若是食物使我的弟兄跌倒,我就永遠不吃肉,免得叫我的弟兄跌倒。 (aiōn )
So if [I, Paul, think that by] eating a certain food I might cause a fellow believer to be ruined spiritually, I will never eat such food again. I do not want to cause any fellow believer (to be ruined spiritually/to stop believing in Christ). [And you should] ([do as I do/imitate my example]). (aiōn )