Food Sacrificed to Idols
1 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 does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the one who loves God is known by God.
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 for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However, not everyone possesses this knowledge. But some, through past association with idolatry, when they eat food offered to an idol, they still think of it as food that has been effected by the idol. Their conscience is weak, and they feel they have been defiled by the food. 8 But food will not commend us to God. If we eat, we are not the better, and if we do not eat, we are not the worse.
9 But be careful that this liberty of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak 10 For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in the temple of an idol, will his conscience not, 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 never eat meat again, so that I do not cause my brother to stumble.