1 Corinthians 8
1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2 If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;
If anyone thinks he knows something, he has not yet come to know anything as he ought to know it.
3 but if any man loveth God, the same is known of him.
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
4 Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no God but one.
With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no other God but one.”
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;
For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),
6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.
for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we exist through him.
7 Howbeit in all men there is not that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
However, not everyone possesses this knowledge. But some have idols in their conscience even now and eat such food as something sacrificed to idols, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
8 But meat will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
But food does not bring us close to God. For we are no better off if we eat, and no worse off if we do not eat.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
But be careful that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if a man see thee which hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
For if someone sees yoʋ, who have knowledge, reclining for a meal in the temple of an idol, will not his weak conscience be emboldened to eat food sacrificed to idols?
11 For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
Should the weak brother, for whose sake Christ died, perish because of yoʋr knowledge?
12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.
When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
