8 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 anyone who loves God 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 an 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 forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. ¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. ¹⁸ Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

¹⁹ What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons. ²¹ You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. ²² Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

²³ “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. ²⁴ Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good. ²⁵ Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, ²⁶ for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”^{(A) 27} But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. ²⁸ But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.” ²⁹ Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? ³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for?

³¹ Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; ³³ even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.