1 Corinthians 8

1 Now concerning those things that are sacrificed to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up.2 But if anyone considers himself to know anything, he does not yet know in the way that he ought to know.3 For if anyone loves God, he is known by him.4 But as to the foods that are immolated to idols, we know that an idol in the world is nothing, and that no one is God, except One.5 For although there are things that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (if one even considers there to be many gods and many lords)6 yet we know that there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things are, and in whom we are, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and by whom we are.7 But knowledge is not in everyone. For some persons, even now, with consent to an idol, eat what has been sacrificed to an idol. And their conscience, being infirm, becomes polluted.8 Yet food does not commend us to God. For if we eat, we will not have more, and if we do not eat, we will not have less.9 But be careful not to let your liberty become a cause of sin to those who are weak.10 For if anyone sees someone with knowledge sitting down to eat in idolatry, will not his own conscience, being infirm, be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?11 And should an infirm brother perish by your knowledge, even though Christ died for him?12 So when you sin in this way against the brothers, and you harm their weakened conscience, then you sin against Christ.13 Because of this, if food leads my brother to sin, I will never eat meat, lest I lead my brother to sin.

1 Corinthians 8

Food Sacrificed to Idols

1 With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.”s Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.

3 But if someone loves God, het is known by God.t
4 With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.”s5 If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.t
7 But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.8 Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.9 But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.10 For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened”t to eat food offered to idols?11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister,t for whom Christ died, is destroyed.t12 If you sin against your brothers or sisterst in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13 For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of themt to sin.