1 Corinthians 8

1 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.

And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up;

2 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;

and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth [him] to know;

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

and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him.

4 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.

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;

5 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--

for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth — as there are gods many and lords many —

6 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.

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

7 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.

but not in all men [is] the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat [it], and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8 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.

But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;

9 But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.

but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,

10 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?

for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol's temple reclining at meat — shall not his conscience — he being infirm — be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols,

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

and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died?

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

and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience — in regard to Christ ye sin;

13 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)

wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh — to the age — that my brother I may not cause to stumble. (aiōn g165)