1 Corinthians 8
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
Now as concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 If anyone thinks he knows something, that person does not yet know as he should know.
And if any man thinketh that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, that person is known by him.
But if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol in this world is nothing and that there is no God but one.
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 For maybe so-called gods do exist, either in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords.”
For though there are that are called gods, whether in heaven or upon earth, (as there are gods many, and lords many)
6 Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist, and through whom we exist.
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 However, this knowledge is not in everyone. Instead, some previously practiced idol worship, and they eat this food as if it were something sacrificed to an idol. Their conscience is thereby corrupted because it is weak.
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 will not present us to God. We are not worse if we do not eat, nor better if we do eat it.
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 But take care that your freedom does not become a reason for someone who is weak in faith to stumble.
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours should become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.
10 For suppose that someone sees you, who have knowledge, eating a meal in an idol's temple. Is not his weak conscience emboldened to eat what is offered to idols?
For if any man shall see thee, who hast knowledge, sit eating in the idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 So because of your understanding about the true nature of idols, the weaker one, the brother for whom Christ died, is destroyed.
And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 Thus, when you sin against your brothers and wound their weak consciences, you sin against Christ.
But when ye thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
