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 as concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

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

And if any man thinketh that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But whoever loves God is known by God…

But if any man loveth God, the same 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.

Therefore as concerning the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other 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 are that are called gods, whether in heaven or upon earth, as 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 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 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 there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol to this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience being 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.

But food commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

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 take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours should become a stumblingblock to them that are 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 man shall see thee who hast knowledge sit eating in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

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

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

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

But when ye thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin 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 food maketh my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to stumble. (aiōn g165)