1 Corinthians 8
1 And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up;
With reference to food that has been offered in sacrifice to idols – We are aware that all of us have knowledge! Knowledge breeds conceit, while love builds up character.
2 and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth [him] to know;
If someone thinks that they know anything, they have not yet reached that knowledge which they ought to have reached.
3 and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him.
On the other hand, if a person loves God, they are known by God.
4 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;
With reference, then, to eating food that has been offered to idols – we are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5 for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth — as there are gods many and lords many —
Even supposing that there are so-called ‘gods’ either in heaven or on earth – and there are many such ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ –
6 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;
Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things come (and for him we live), and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come (and through him we live).
7 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.
Still, it is not everyone that has this knowledge. Some people, because of their association with idols, continued down to the present time, eat the food as food offered to an idol; and their consciences, while still weak, are dulled.
8 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;
What we eat, however, will not bring us nearer to God. We lose nothing by not eating this food, and we gain nothing by eating it.
9 but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,
But take care that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak.
10 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,
For if someone should see you who possess this knowledge, feasting in an idol’s temple, will not their conscience, if they are weak, become so hardened that they, too, will eat food offered to idols?
11 and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died?
And so, through this knowledge of yours, the weak person is ruined – someone for whose sake Christ died!
12 and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience — in regard to Christ ye sin;
In this way, by sinning against your fellow followers of the Lord and injuring their consciences, while still weak, you sin against Christ.
