1 Corinthians 8
English Standard Version
Food Offered to Idols
8 Now concerning[a] (A)food offered to idols: we know that (B)“all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” (C)puffs up, (D)but love builds up. 2 (E)If anyone imagines that he knows something, (F)he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, (G)he is known by God.[b]
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that (H)“an idol has no real existence,” and that (I)“there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be (J)so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet (K)for us there is one God, the Father, (L)from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and (M)one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and (N)through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, (O)through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and (P)their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 (Q)Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care (R)that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block (S)to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating[c] 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 (T)destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[e] and (U)wounding their conscience when it is weak, (V)you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (W)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 Greek him
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Greek reclining at table
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 Or brothers and sisters
1 Corinthians 8
Christian Standard Bible
Food Offered to Idols
8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:(A) We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up,(B) but love(C) builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.(D) 3 But if anyone loves God,(E) he is known(F) by him.
4 About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,”[a] and that “there is no God but one.”(G) 5 For even if there are so-called gods,(H) whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father.(I) All things are from him,(J) and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.(K)
7 However, not everyone has this knowledge. Some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not bring us close to God.[b] We are not worse off if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat.(L) 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block(M) to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged[c] to eat food offered to idols? 11 So the weak person, the brother or sister for whom Christ died,(N) is ruined[d](O) by your knowledge.(P) 12 Now when you sin like this against brothers and sisters and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother or sister to fall, I will never again eat meat,(Q) so that I won’t cause my brother or sister to fall.
1 Corinthians 8
Legacy Standard Bible
Take Care with Your Liberty
8 Now concerning (A)things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have (B)knowledge. Knowledge (C)puffs up, but love (D)builds up. 2 (E)If anyone thinks that he has known anything, he has not yet (F)known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he (G)has been known by Him.
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of (H)things sacrificed to idols, we know that [a]an idol is (I)nothing in the world, and that (J)there is no God but one. 5 For even if (K)there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us (L)there is one God, (M)the Father, (N)from whom are all things and we exist for Him, and (O)one Lord, Jesus Christ, (P)by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However, not all men (Q)have this knowledge; but (R)some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But (S)food will not [b]commend us to God. We neither lack if we do not eat, nor abound if we do eat. 9 But (T)see to it that this [c]authority of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the (U)weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have (V)knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be built up to eat (W)things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through (X)your knowledge he who is weak (Y)is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 (Z)And in that way, by sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin (AA)against Christ. 13 Therefore, (AB)if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again—ever, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 An idol has no real existence
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Or present
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 Or liberty
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