Take Care with Your Liberty

8 Now concerning ^(A)things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have ^(B)knowledge. Knowledge ^[a](C)makes arrogant, but love ^(D)edifies. ^2 (E)If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet ^(F)known as he ought to know; ³ but if anyone loves God, he ^(G)is known by Him.

⁴ Therefore concerning the eating of ^(H)things sacrificed to idols, we know that ^[b]there is ^(I)no such thing as an idol 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 but 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 ^[c]commend us to God; we are neither ^[d]the worse if we do not eat, nor ^[e]the better if we do eat. ⁹ But ^(T)take care that this ^[f]liberty 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 strengthened 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 so, by sinning against the brethren 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, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.