Book of Common Prayer

8 Now here is what I say about food given to idols. We all know something about this matter. Yet knowledge makes us proud. Love is the real teacher.

² If anyone thinks he knows much, then he does not know what he really should know.

³ But if anyone loves God, then God knows him.

⁴ So here is what I say about eating food that has been given to idols or false gods. We know that an idol really is nothing in this world. There is only one true and living God.

⁵ There are things in the sky and on earth which are called gods. Yes, there are many gods and lords.

⁶ Yet for us there is only one God. He is the Father. All things come from him. He is the one for whom we live. And there is only one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. He made all things. He is the one who gives us life.

⁷ But not every Christian knows these things. Some of them have always believed in idols. And when they eat food which has been given to an idol, they think the food belongs to the idol. And because they are weak Christians they feel they do wrong when they eat it.

⁸ One thing is sure, food will not bring us closer to God. If we eat it, it will not make us right with God. And if we do not eat, it will not make us wrong.

⁹ Perhaps you feel it is all right for you to do it. But be careful! It might make the weak Christian do wrong.

¹⁰ You know it is not wrong for you to eat these things. But if a weak Christian sees you eating in the idol's house, he will also want to eat food that has been given to an idol. He will do what is against his own belief.

¹¹ You know the truth, and yet your knowledge will make your weak brother do wrong. You have hurt the faith of a brother, for whom Christ died.

¹² In this way you do wrong to your brother. You hurt him because he is weak. And in so doing you do wrong to Christ.

¹³ If eating such food makes my brother do wrong, I will never eat it. I do not want my brother to do wrong.

¹³ They drove bad spirits out of many people. They also put oil on many sick people and healed them.

¹⁴ King Herod heard about these things. People were talking about Jesus everywhere. Herod said, `John the Baptizer is risen from death. That is why he is able to do such great works.'

¹⁵ Other people said, `It is Elijah.' Others said, `He is a prophet like the prophets of God who lived long ago.'

¹⁶ Herod heard what other people said, so he said, `I cut off John's head. He is alive again.'

¹⁷ Herod had sent his people to catch John. They tied him and put him in prison to please Herodias. Herod had married her, but she was his brother Philip's wife.

¹⁸ John had told Herod, `It is wrong for you to have your brother's wife.'

²⁰ So Herodias hated John. She wanted to kill him. But she could not because Herod liked John. He knew that John did what was right and was a good man. So he kept John safe. When he heard John speak he was troubled in his heart, and yet he was glad to hear him.

²¹ rod made a feast on his birthday. He called all his rulers and the captains and the leaders of Galilee to come to the feast.

²² The daughter of Herodias came in and danced for them. This pleased Herod and the people at the feast. Then the king said to the girl, `Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.'

²³ He made a promise which he would not break. He said, `Anything that you ask me for I will give you, even if you ask me for half of my kingdom.'

²⁴ The girl went to her mother and said, `What shall I ask for?' Her mother said, `Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.'

²⁵ The girl came quickly to the king and said, `I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a plate. Give it to me right away.'

²⁶ The king was very sorry. But he had made a promise and all the people at the feast had heard him promise. He wanted to do what he promised her.

²⁷ Right away he sent one of the soldiers who was standing on guard. He told him to bring John's head. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John's head.

²⁸ He brought the head on a plate and gave it to the girl. She gave it to her mother.

²⁹ When John's disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and buried it.