Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 8
1 περι δε των ειδωλοθυτων οιδαμεν οτι παντες γνωσιν εχομεν η γνωσις φυσιοι η δε αγαπη οικοδομει
Now about “food sacrificed to idols.” So “we all have knowledge” about this subject. Knowledge makes us proud, but love strengthens us.
2 ει δε τις δοκει ειδεναι τι ουδεπω ουδεν εγνωκεν καθως δει γνωναι
If anyone thinks they know anything, they don't know as they really should know!
3 ει δε τις αγαπα τον θεον ουτος εγνωσται υπ αυτου
But whoever loves God is known by God…
4 περι της βρωσεως ουν των ειδωλοθυτων οιδαμεν οτι ουδεν ειδωλον εν κοσμω και οτι ουδεις θεος ετερος ει μη εις
So regarding eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that there are no such things as idols in the world, and that there is only one real God.
5 και γαρ ειπερ εισιν λεγομενοι θεοι ειτε εν ουρανω ειτε επι της γης ωσπερ εισιν θεοι πολλοι και κυριοι πολλοι
Even though there are some things called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth—in fact there are many “gods” and “lords.”
6 αλλ ημιν εις θεος ο πατηρ εξ ου τα παντα και ημεις εις αυτον και εις κυριος ιησους χριστος δι ου τα παντα και ημεις δι αυτου
But for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything was made, and he is the goal of our existence; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom everything was made, and he is the means of our existence.
7 αλλ ουκ εν πασιν η γνωσις τινες δε τη συνειδησει του ειδωλου εως αρτι ως ειδωλοθυτον εσθιουσιν και η συνειδησις αυτων ασθενης ουσα μολυνεται
But not everyone has this “knowledge.” Some who up to now have been so used to idols as a reality that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience (which is weak) tells them they have defiled themselves.
8 βρωμα δε ημας ου παριστησιν τω θεω ουτε γαρ εαν φαγωμεν περισσευομεν ουτε εαν μη φαγωμεν υστερουμεθα
But food doesn't gain us God's approval! If we don't eat this food, we're not bad, and if we do eat this food, we're not good.
9 βλεπετε δε μηπως η εξουσια υμων αυτη προσκομμα γενηται τοις ασθενουσιν
Just take care not to use this freedom you have to eat food sacrificed to idols to become offensive to those with a weaker attitude.
10 εαν γαρ τις ιδη σε τον εχοντα γνωσιν εν ειδωλειω κατακειμενον ουχι η συνειδησις αυτου ασθενους οντος οικοδομηθησεται εις το τα ειδωλοθυτα εσθιειν
If another believer sees you who have such “better knowledge” eating food in an idol temple, won't his weak conscience be convinced to eat food sacrificed to idols?
11 και απολειται ο ασθενων αδελφος επι τη ση γνωσει δι ον χριστος απεθανεν
By your “better knowledge” the weaker believer is destroyed, a believer for whom Christ died.
12 ουτως δε αμαρτανοντες εις τους αδελφους και τυπτοντες αυτων την συνειδησιν ασθενουσαν εις χριστον αμαρτανετε
In this way you sin against other believers, wounding their weaker consciences, and you sin against Christ.
