Food Sacrificed to Idols

1Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2If anyone thinks he knows something, he has not yet come to know ⁶³anything as he ought to know it.

3But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

4With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no ⁶⁴other God but one.”

5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),

6for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we exist through him.

7However, not everyone possesses this knowledge. But some ⁶⁵have idols in their conscience even now and eat such food as something sacrificed to idols, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

8But food ⁶⁶does not bring us close to God. ⁶⁷For we are no better off if we eat, and no worse off if we do not eat.

9But be careful that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

10For if someone sees yoʋ, who have knowledge, reclining for a meal in the temple of an idol, will not his weak conscience be emboldened to eat food sacrificed to idols?

11⁶⁸Should ⁶⁹the weak brother, for whose sake Christ died, perish because of yoʋr knowledge?

12When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will certainly never eat meat, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.