2 KORINTIËRS 8
Die vraag oor vleis wat aan 'n afgod geoffer is
1 En nou julle vraag oor vleis wat aan 'n afgod geoffer is. Ons weet dat ons almal kennis het. Kennis maak verwaand, maar liefde bou op.
2 As iemand meen hy het kennis van iets, het hy nog nie die kennis wat 'n mens behoort te hê nie. 3 Maar as iemand God liefhet, ken God hom.
4 Wat nou betref die eet van vleis wat aan 'n afgod geoffer is: ons weet dat daar geen afgod in die hele wêreld is wat iets beteken nie, en dat daar ook geen God is nie, behalwe Een. 5 En al is daar ook sogenaamde gode, of dit in die hemel en of dit op die aarde is, soos daar trouens baie is wat “God” en baie wat “Here” genoem word, 6 is daar nogtans vir ons net een God: die Vader, uit wie alles is en vir wie ons lewe; en net een Here: Jesus Christus, deur wie alles bestaan en deur wie ons lewe.
7 Maar nie almal het hierdie kennis nie. Daar is party van julle wat so gewoond is aan afgode dat hulle nog altyd vleis eet asof dit 'n offer aan 'n afgod is. Daardeur word hulle gewete, wat reeds swak is, verder beswaar. 8 Wat ons eet, bring ons egter nie nader aan God nie. As ons nie eet nie, verloor ons niks nie; en as ons eet, wen ons niks nie. 9 Maar pas op dat hierdie vryheid van julle nie vir dié wat swak is, 'n aanleiding tot sonde word nie. 10 As jy wat hierdie kennis het, in 'n afgodstempel gaan eet en iemand met 'n swak gewete sien jou, sal dit hom dan nie aanmoedig om die vleis as afgodsoffer te eet nie? 11 Dan gaan die swakke verlore deur hierdie kennis van jou, en dit 'n broer vir wie Christus gesterf het. 12 Deur so teen die broers te sondig en 'n las op hulle swak gewetens te lê, sondig julle teen Christus. 13 Daarom, as ek deur wat ek eet, my broer laat struikel, sal ek nooit weer vleis eet nie: ek wil nie my broer se val veroorsaak nie.
1 Corinthians 8
1 NOW ABOUT food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].2 If anyone imagines that he has come to know and understand much [of divine things, without love], he does not yet perceive and recognize and understand as strongly and clearly, nor has he become as intimately acquainted with anything as he ought or as is necessary.3 But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].4 In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing (has no real existence) and that there is no God but one. 5 For although there may be so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many of them, both of gods and of lords and masters,6 Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. 7 Nevertheless, not all [believers] possess this knowledge. But some, through being all their lives until now accustomed to [thinking of] idols [as real and living], still consider the food [offered to an idol] as that sacrificed to an [actual] god; and their weak consciences become defiled and injured if they eat [it].8 Now food [itself] will not cause our acceptance by God nor commend us to Him. Eating [food offered to idols] gives us no advantage; neither do we come short or become any worse if we do not eat [it].9 Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin].10 For suppose someone sees you, a man having knowledge [of God, with an intelligent view of this subject and] reclining at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged and emboldened [to violate his own conscientious scruples] if he is weak and uncertain, and eat what [to him] is for the purpose of idol worship?11 And so by your enlightenment (your knowledge of spiritual things), this weak man is ruined (is lost and perishes)--the brother for whom Christ (the Messiah) died!12 And when you sin against your brethren in this way, wounding and damaging their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13 Therefore, if [my eating a] food is a cause of my brother’s falling or of hindering [his spiritual advancement], I will not eat [such] flesh forever, lest I cause my brother to be tripped up and fall and to be offended.