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 about food 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;

If anyone thinks he knows something, that person does not yet know as he should know.

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

But if anyone loves God, that person 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.

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol in this world is nothing 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 maybe so-called gods do exist, either in heaven or on earth, just 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 for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist, and through whom we exist.

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, this knowledge is not in everyone. Instead, some previously practiced idol worship, and they eat this food as if it were something sacrificed to an idol. Their conscience is thereby corrupted because it is weak.

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 present us to God. We are not worse if we do not eat, nor better if we do eat it.

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

But take care that your freedom does not become a reason for someone who is weak in faith to stumble.

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 suppose that someone sees you, who have knowledge, eating a meal in an idol's temple. Is not his weak conscience emboldened to eat what is offered to idols?

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

So because of your understanding about the true nature of idols, the weaker one, the brother for whom Christ died, is destroyed.

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, when you sin against your brothers and wound their weak consciences, you sin against Christ.

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 never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to fall. (aiōn g165)