Food Offered to Idols
1
Now concerninga1food offered to idols: we know that 2"all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge"3puffs up, 4but love builds up.
4
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that 8"an idol has no real existence," and that 9"there is no God but one."
5
For although there may be 10so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"--
6
yet 11for us there is one God, the Father, 12from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and 13one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and 14through whom we exist.
7
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, 15through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and 16their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8
17Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
10
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eatingc in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged,d if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
11
And so by your knowledge this weak person is 20destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
12
Thus, sinning against your brotherse and 21wounding their conscience when it is weak, 22you sin against Christ.
13
Therefore, 23if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)