1 Corinthians 8

1 But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

Now as to things which have been sacrificed to idols. This is a subject which we already understand--because we all have knowledge of it. Knowledge, however, tends to make people conceited; it is love that builds us up.

2 If any one think he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know [it].

If any one imagines that he already possesses any true knowledge, he has as yet attained to no knowledge of the kind to which he ought to have attained;

3 But if any one love God, he is known of him):

but if any one loves God, that man is known by God.

4 — concerning then the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in [the] world, and that there [is] no other God save one.

As to eating things which have been sacrificed to idols, we are fully aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but One.

5 For and if indeed there are [those] called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are gods many, and lords many, )

For if so-called gods do exist, either in Heaven or on earth--and in fact there are many such gods and many such lords--

6 yet to us [there is] one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.

yet we have but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things and for whose service we exist, and but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we and all things exist.

7 But knowledge [is] not in all: but some, with conscience of the idol, until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to idols; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

But all believers do not recognize these facts. Some, from force of habit in relation to the idol, even now eat idol sacrifices as such, and their consciences, being but weak, are polluted.

8 But meat does not commend us to God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage.

It is true that a particular kind of food will not bring us into God's presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from it, nor superior to them if we eat it.

9 But see lest anywise this your right [to eat] itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.

But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.

10 For if any one see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at table in an idol-house, shall not his conscience, he being weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to the idol?

For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, reclining at table in an idol's temple, would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer) be emboldened to eat the food which has been sacrificed to the idol?

11 and the weak [one], the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge.

Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died!

12 Now, thus sinning against the brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ.

13 Wherefore if meat be a fall-trap to my brother, I will eat no flesh for ever, that I may not be a fall-trap to my brother. (aiōn g165)

Therefore if what I eat causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I touch any kind of animal food, for fear I should cause my brother to fall. (aiōn g165)