Be Sensitive to Conscience

8 Now ^(A)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have ^(B)knowledge. ^(C)Knowledge ^[a]puffs up, but love ^[b]edifies. ² And ^(D)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

⁷ However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, ^(A)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is ^(B)defiled. ⁸ But ^(C)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

⁹ But ^(D)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become ^(E)a ^[a]stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰ For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not ^(F)the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? ¹¹ And ^(G)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? ¹² But ^(H)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, ^(I)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.