Concerning Idol Sacrifices

8 Now concerning idol sacrifices, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone thinks he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

⁴ Therefore concerning the eating of idol sacrifices, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one. ^{[a] 5} For even if there are so-called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),

⁷ But that knowledge is not in everyone—some, so accustomed to idols up until now, eat food as an idol sacrifice; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸ But food will not bring us before God. We are no worse off if we do not eat and no better off if we do eat. ⁹ But watch out that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. ^{[c] 10} For suppose someone sees you—who have this knowledge—dining in an idol’s temple. If his conscience is weak, won’t he be emboldened to eat idol sacrifices? ¹¹ For the one who is weak is destroyed by your knowledge—the brother for whom Messiah died. ¹² In this way, when you sin against the brothers and sisters and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Messiah. ¹³ For this reason, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I do not cause my brother to stumble.