1 Corinthians 8

Food Offered to Idols

1 About food offered to idols: We know that "we all have knowledge." Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.

3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
4 About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that "an idol is nothing in the world," and that "there is no God but one."

5 For even if 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.
All things are from Him,
and we [exist] for Him.
And [there is] one Lord, Jesus Christ.
All things are through Him,
and we [exist] through Him.
7 However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don't eat, and we are not better if we do eat. 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11 Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. 12 Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ.

13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won't cause my brother to fall.

1 Corinthians 8

1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.2 If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;3 but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.4 Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one.5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.7 Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.8 But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.10 For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?11 For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.13 Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.