1 Corinthians 8

1 And concerning sacrifices to idols, we know, that in all of us there is knowledge; and knowledge inflateth, but love edifieth.

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 any one thinketh that he knoweth any thing he knoweth 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 loveth God, that man is known of him.

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

4 As to the eating of the sacrifices of idols, therefore, we know that an idol is nothing in the world; and that there is no other God, but 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 although there are what are 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, on our part, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord, Jesus the Messiah, by whom are all things, and we also 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 there is not this knowledge in every man; for there are some, who, to the present time, in their conscience, eat it as an offering to idols; and because their conscience is weak, it 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 doth not bring us near to God; for if we eat, we do not abound; and if we eat not, we are not in want.

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 See to it, however, lest this your authority 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 one should see thee in whom there is knowledge, reclining in the temple of idols, will not his conscience, seeing he is a weak person, be encouraged to eat what is sacrificed?

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 by thy knowledge, he who is feeble, and on account of whom the Messiah died, will perish.

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

12 And if ye thus sin against your brethren, and wound the consciences of the feeble, ye sin against the Messiah.

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

13 Wherefore, if food is a stumbling-block to my brother, I will for ever eat no flesh, lest I should be a stumbling-block 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)