| 1 | Now about food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies
and
builds up
and
encourages one to grow [to his full stature]. |
| 2 | If anyone imagines that he has come to know
and
understand much [of divine things, without love], he does not yet perceive
and
recognize
and
understand as strongly
and
clearly,
nor
has he become as intimately acquainted with anything as he ought
or
as is necessary. |
| 3 | But if one loves God truly [
[a]with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [
[b]recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him]. |
| 4 | In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing (has no real existence) and that there is no God but one. |
| 5 | For although there may be so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many of them, both of gods and of lords
and
masters, |
| 6 | Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through
and
by Whom are all things and through
and
by Whom we [ourselves exist]. |
| 7 | Nevertheless, not all [believers] possess this knowledge. But some, through being all their lives until now accustomed to [thinking of] idols [as real and living], still consider the food [offered to an idol] as that sacrificed to an [actual] god; and their weak consciences become defiled
and
injured if they eat [it]. |
| 8 | Now food [itself] will not cause our acceptance by God
nor
commend us to Him. Eating [food offered to idols] gives us no advantage; neither do we come short
or
become any worse if we do not eat [it]. |
| 9 | Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak
or
overscrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin]. |
| 10 | For suppose someone sees you, a man having knowledge [of God, with an intelligent view of this subject and] reclining at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged
and
emboldened [to violate his own conscientious scruples] if he is weak
and
uncertain, and eat what [to him] is for the purpose of idol worship? |
| 11 | And so by your enlightenment (your knowledge of spiritual things), this weak man is ruined (is lost and perishes)—the brother for whom Christ (the Messiah) died! |
| 12 | And when you sin against your brethren in this way, wounding
and
damaging their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. |
| 13 | Therefore, if [my eating a] food is a cause of my brother’s falling
or
of hindering [his spiritual advancement], I will not eat [such] flesh forever, lest I cause my brother to be tripped up
and
fall
and
to be offended. |
Cross references:
-
1 Corinthians 8:4 : Deut. 6:4.
-
1 Corinthians 8:6 : Mal. 2:10.
|