1 Corinthians 8

1 Now [I will answer what you asked] about [us believers] eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. [We know what some of you say, that God has enabled] all of us [to] know [the truth about things such as idols. But often we become] proud because we say that we know [all those things]. But instead of being proud about what we know, we should show that we love [our fellow believers by helping them to] become spiritually mature.

Concerning now the idol-sacrifices, we know indeed all knowledge we have. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2 Those who think that they thoroughly know something do not yet know it as they should.

If (now *k*) anyone thinks (to have known *N(k)O*) anything, (not yet *N(k)O*) (no [thing] *k*) (he knew *N(k)O*) even as it is necessary to know;

3 But as for those who love God, they know that they belong to him.

If however anyone loves God, he has known by Him.

4 So [I will tell you] about eating meat that people have sacrificed to idols. We know that it is true, [as you say], that idols are not really alive. We also know that there is only one real God.

Concerning the eating therefore of the idol-sacrifices we know that no [thing] an idol [is] in [the] world and that [there is] no God (other *k*) only except one.

5 It is true that there are gods whom people think live in the heavens or whom they think live on earth. Truly, there are many beings that [people] call gods, and whom [they] call lords.

Even truly if indeed if indeed there are [those] named gods whether in heaven or on (*k*) earth, as there are gods many and lords many;

6 But for us [believers] there is only one real God. He is [our heavenly] Father who created everything. He is the one whom we [worship and serve]. Also, for us believers Jesus Christ is the one and only Lord. He is the one whom [God caused] to create everything. It is because of what he [has done for us on the cross] that we have [spiritual] life.

yet to us [there is] one God the Father of whom [are] the [things] all and we ourselves for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom [are] the [things] all and we ourselves through Him.

7 Nevertheless, some people do not understand [that idols are not really alive]. In the past, some among you who are believers now were accustomed to believing that idols [were really alive]. As a result, when they eat such meat [now], they still think that it was sacrificed to an idol [that is alive]. They are not sure [that God allows believers to eat meat that has been offered to idols]. So, [when they eat such meat], they think that they have sinned.

But not in all [is] this knowledge; Some now (by custom *N(K)O*) until now of the idol as of an idol-sacrifice eat, and the conscience of them weak being it is defiled.

8 But God will not think more highly about us [if we eat certain] foods, or if we do not eat [certain foods]. That is, we are not more acceptable to God if we do not eat certain foods, nor are we more acceptable to him if we eat those foods.

Food however us not (will commend *N(k)O*) to God; neither (for *ko*) if not we shall eat [still] do we come short [then] nor if we shall eat (have we an advantage. *NK(o)*)

9 However, be sure that you do not do anything that God allows you to do, if by doing that you would encourage any of [your fellow believers to do something that] they are not sure [God allows them to do]. As a result, you would be causing them to sin.

do be careful however lest perhaps the right of you this an occasion of stumbling may become to those (weak. *N(k)O*)

10 For example, you know [that idols are not really alive]. Suppose that in a temple [where they worship] idols you eat [food that has been sacrificed to idols]. Suppose that someone who is not sure whether God allows us to eat that food sees you eating it. [You] would be encouraging him to eat it, too. [RHQ]

If for anyone shall see you who is having knowledge in an idol’s temple eating, surely the conscience of him weak being he will be encouraged the idol-sacrifices to eat?

11 As a result, you who know that [idols are not really alive], might cause that fellow believer, one for whom Christ died, (to be ruined [spiritually]/to stop believing [in Christ]).

(Is destroyed *N(K)O*) (for *N(k)O*) the [one] who is being weak (through *N(k)O*) your knowledge, (the *no*) brother for whom Christ died.

12 By sinning against your fellow believer by causing him to do something that he thinks God does not allow us to do, [it is as though] you are sinning against Christ himself!

Thus then sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience being weak, against Christ you sin.

13 So if [I, Paul, think that by] eating a certain food I might cause a fellow believer to be ruined spiritually, I will never eat such food again. I do not want to cause any fellow believer (to be ruined spiritually/to stop believing in Christ). [And you should] ([do as I do/imitate my example]). (aiōn g165)

Therefore if food snares the brother of mine, certainly not shall I eat meat to the age so that not the brother of mine I may snare. (aiōn g165)