1 Corinthians 8

1 And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love builds up;

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 and if anyone thinks to know anything, he has not yet known anything according as it is required to know;

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 and if anyone loves God, this one has been known by Him.

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

4 Concerning the eating then of the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except 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 even if there are those called gods, whether in Heaven, whether on earth—as there are many gods and many lords—

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 [is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom [are] all things, and we through 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 not in all men [is] the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, until now, eat [it] as a thing sacrificed to an idol, 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 food does not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;

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 this privilege of yours may become 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 anyone may see you that have knowledge in an idol’s temple reclining to eat, will not his conscience—he being weak—be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols?

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 For the [one] being weak—the brother for whom Christ died—will perish by your knowledge.

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

12 And thus sinning in regard to the brothers, and striking their weak conscience—you sin in regard to Christ;

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

13 for this reason, if food causes my brother to stumble, I may not eat flesh—throughout the age—that I may not cause my brother to stumble. (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)