Book of Common Prayer
Concerning Food Sacrificed To Idols: Let Love Guide Your Exercise of “Rights”
8 Now concerning the foods-sacrificed-to-idols, we know that we all have knowledge[a]. Knowledge puffs-up, but love builds-up. 2 If anyone thinks that he has come-to-know anything, he did not-yet know as he ought-to know. 3 But if one loves[b] God, this one has been known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of the foods-sacrificed-to-idols— we know that an idol is nothing[c] in the world, and that there is no God except one. 5 For even if-indeed there are ones being called gods, whether in heaven or on earth— as-indeed there are many[d] gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is One God the Father, from Whom are all things, and we are[e] for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we are through Him. 7 But this knowledge is not in all people. But some, by the accustomed-habit[f] of the idol until now, eat this food as[g] food-sacrificed-to-an-idol. And their conscience, being weak, is stained[h]. 8 But food will not bring us[i] near[j] to God— neither if we do not eat are we lacking, nor if we eat are we abounding. 9 But be watching-out that this right[k] of yours does not somehow become an opportunity-for-stumbling to the weak ones. 10 For if someone sees you, the one having knowledge, reclining [to eat] in an idol-temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built-up so as to eat the foods-sacrificed-to-idols? 11 For the one being weak is being destroyed[l] by your knowledge— the brother for the sake of whom Christ died! 12 And in this manner sinning against the brothers and striking[m] their conscience while being weak, you are sinning against Christ.
On The One Hand, I Will Not Do Anything That Hinders People’s Spiritual Advance
13 For-this-very-reason, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meats, ever— in-order-that I may not cause my brother to fall.
Enter God’s Kingdom Through The Narrow Gate, Which Is Found By Few
13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because wide is the gate and broad[a] is the road leading-away to destruction— and many are the ones entering through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and constricted[b] is the road leading-away to life— and few are the ones finding it.
Beware of False Prophets. The Nature of What They Produce Will Reveal Them
15 “Beware of the false-prophets— who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inside are ravenous[c] wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. They do not collect grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles, do they? 17 Thus, every good tree produces good fruit, but the bad tree produces bad[d] fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit, nor is a bad tree able to produce good[e] fruit. 19 Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So indeed, you will know them by their fruits.
Not Everyone Talking About God Knows Him. Only Those Doing His Will Enter His Kingdom
21 “Not everyone saying to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father in the heavens.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing