1 Corinthians 8

1 Now about “food sacrificed to idols.” So “we all have knowledge” about this subject. Knowledge makes us proud, but love strengthens us.

Now in regard to food which has been offered to idols, we are sure of course that "we all have knowledge." But knowledge puffs up, while love builds up.

2 If anyone thinks they know anything, they don't know as they really should know!

If a man thinks that he already has knowledge, he does not yet truly know as he ought to know;

3 But whoever loves God is known by God…

but if a man loves God, he is known by him.

4 So regarding eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that there are no such things as idols in the world, and that there is only one real God.

Now as to eating food that has been offered to idols, we know well that an idol has no real existence in the universe, and that there is no God but One.

5 Even though there are some things called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth—in fact there are many “gods” and “lords.”

For though there be so-called "gods," celestial of terrestrial, as indeed there are gods many and lords many,

6 But for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything was made, and he is the goal of our existence; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom everything was made, and he is the means of our existence.

yet for 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 But not everyone has this “knowledge.” Some who up to now have been so used to idols as a reality that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience (which is weak) tells them they have defiled themselves.

But that "knowledge" is not possessed by all; but some, accustomed until now to the idol, eat food as that which has actually been offered to an idol, and so their conscience, being still weak, is defiled.

8 But food doesn't gain us God's approval! If we don't eat this food, we're not bad, and if we do eat this food, we're not good.

Now food does not bring us nearness to God. Neither if we eat do we gain any advantage, nor if we eat not, do we lose any.

9 Just take care not to use this freedom you have to eat food sacrificed to idols to become offensive to those with a weaker attitude.

But see to it lest this right of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak.

10 If another believer sees you who have such “better knowledge” eating food in an idol temple, won't his weak conscience be convinced to eat food sacrificed to idols?

For if any one should see you, the possessor of "knowledge," reclining at table in an idol’s temple, would not his conscience, if he were weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

11 By your “better knowledge” the weaker believer is destroyed, a believer for whom Christ died.

So he is lost, this weak man, lost by your "knowledge." this brother for whom Christ died.

12 In this way you sin against other believers, wounding their weaker consciences, and you sin against Christ.

In so sinning against your brothers, and in ever and again wounding their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ.

13 So if eating food sacrificed to idols would cause my fellow believer to stumble, I will never eat such meat ever again, so that I don't offend any believer. (aiōn g165)

Therefore, if what I eat makes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, lest I make my brother to stumble. (aiōn g165)