1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 But if anyone thinks
that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if
anyone loves God, the same is known by him. 4 Therefore concerning the
eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the
world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For though there are
things that are called “gods,” whether in the heavens or on earth; as there
are many “gods” and many “lords;” 6 yet to us there is one God, the
Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things, and we live through him. 7 However, that
knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until
now, 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. For neither, if
we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. 9 But
be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling
block to the weak. 10 For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in
an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat
things sacrificed to idols? 11 And through your knowledge, he who is weak
perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against
the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin
against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will
eat no meat forevermore, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.
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