8 You asked me a question about food that people have offered to idols. You say, ‘We all know about these things.’ We know that is true. But when you know about something, that can make you proud. Love is better. Love helps people to become strong. 2 Some people may think that they know everything. People like that do not know as much as they ought to know. 3 But if somebody loves God, he is God's friend. God knows that person.
4 So think about food that people have offered to idols. You ask, ‘Should Christians eat that food?’ We know that no idol is really alive. We also know that there is only one God. 5 It is true that people call many things their gods. Those are things both in heaven and on earth. Those people have many gods and many lords. 6 But for us there is only one God, who is the Father. All things come from him. We live to serve him. For us, there is only one Lord, who is Jesus Christ. All things are there because of him. And we ourselves live because of him.
7 But not everyone understands properly about idols. Before they believed in Christ, some people worshipped idols for many years. So if they eat food that people have offered to an idol, they become afraid. They think that the food belongs to a real god. Their thoughts are weak. They think that they are doing something wrong. 8 But the food that we eat will not help us to please God. If we do not eat certain food, that will not make us worse. If we do eat that food, it will not make us better.
9 You are free to eat any kind of food. You understand that. But other Christians do not understand so well. So you must be careful. Do not cause them to do something that they think is wrong. 10 You may be eating food in a place where people worship idols. Then another Christian sees you there. You know that the idols are not real gods. But the other Christian may have weak thoughts about this. So, because he sees you, he may think that he can eat that food too. 11 Because you understand properly, you are hurting someone who does not understand so well. In that way, the life of your Christian friend has become completely spoiled. Remember that Christ died to save that friend. 12 If you do that kind of bad thing to hurt your Christian friends, you are hurting Christ himself. You are causing them to do something which they think is wrong. 13 I do not want to hurt any of my Christian friends. So, if the food that I eat causes them to do something wrong, I will never eat meat again.
8 Now I will write about meat that is sacrificed [ a ] to idols. It is certainly true that “we all have knowledge,” as you say. But this knowledge only fills people with pride. It is love that helps the church grow stronger. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know anything as they should. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
4 So this is what I say about eating meat: We know that an idol is really nothing in the world, and we know that there is only one God. 5 It’s really not important if there are things called gods in heaven or on earth—and there are many of these “gods” and “lords” out there. 6 For us there is only one God, and he is our Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things were made through him, and we also have life through him.
7 But not all people know this. Some have had the habit of worshiping idols. So now when they eat meat, they still feel as if it belongs to an idol. They are not sure that it is right to eat this meat. So when they eat it, they feel guilty. 8 But food will not bring us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us closer to him.
9 But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom to eat anything may make those who have doubts about what they can eat fall into sin. 10 You understand that it’s all right to eat anything, so you can eat even in an idol’s temple. But someone who has doubts might see you eating there, and this might encourage them to eat meat sacrificed to idols too. But they really think it is wrong. 11 So this weak brother or sister—someone Christ died for—is lost because of your better understanding. 12 When you sin against your brothers and sisters in Christ in this way and you hurt them by causing them to do things they feel are wrong, you are also sinning against Christ. 13 So if the food I eat makes another believer fall into sin, I will never eat meat again. I will stop eating meat, so that I will not make my brother or sister sin.
8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 But meat 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 heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
8 Now concerning ( A ) food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have ( B ) knowledge. Knowledge [ a ] ( C ) makes one conceited, but love ( D ) edifies people . 2 ( E ) If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet ( F ) known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he ( G ) is known by Him.
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of ( H ) food sacrificed to idols, we know that an ( I ) idol is [ b ] nothing at all in the world, and that ( J ) there is no God but one. 5 For even if ( K ) there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us ( L ) there is only one God, ( M ) the Father, ( N ) from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and ( O ) one Lord, Jesus Christ, ( P ) by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However, not all people ( Q ) have this knowledge; but ( R ) some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Now ( S ) food will not bring us [ c ] close to God; we are neither [ d ] the worse if we do not eat, nor [ e ] the better if we do eat. 9 But ( T ) take care that this [ f ] freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the ( U ) weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has ( V ) knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat ( W ) things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through ( X ) your knowledge the one who is weak ( Y ) is ruined, the brother or sister for whose sake Christ died. 12 ( Z ) And so, by sinning against the brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin ( AA ) against Christ. 13 Therefore, ( AB ) if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin.
8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: ( A ) We know that “We all possess knowledge.” ( B ) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something ( C ) do not yet know as they ought to know. ( D ) 3 But whoever loves God is known by God. [ a ] ( E )
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: ( F ) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” ( G ) and that “There is no God but one.” ( H ) 5 For even if there are so-called gods, ( I ) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, ( J ) the Father, ( K ) from whom all things came ( L ) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, ( M ) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came ( N ) and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. ( O ) Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, ( P ) it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; ( Q ) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block ( R ) to the weak. ( S ) 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? ( T ) 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed ( U ) by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them ( V ) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ( W ) 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall. ( X )
