[1 Corinthians 8]

 

             ^8:1 Now concerning idol-sacrifices: we know that all have knowledge. The knowledge is arrogant, but the love^* builds up. ^8:2 But if anyone thinks to know anything, he has not yet known anything as it is essential to know; ^8:3 but if anyone loves^* God, this one has been known by him. ^8:4 Therefore, concerning the food of idol-sacrifices, we know that an idol in the world is nothing and that there is no other God except one. ^8:5 For^* if indeed^* there are so called^* gods, whether in heaven or upon the earth (just-like there are many such gods and many such lords), ^8:6 but to us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we are ^*for him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we are through him. ^8:7 But the knowledge is not in all of them, but until now some believe in the consciousness of the idol, eat it like an idol-sacrifice, and their conscience is defiled, being weak. ^8:8 But food does not present us to God, for^* neither if we eat, do we abound, nor if we do not eat, are we lacking?

             ^8:9 But beware^°, lest this liberty of yours^° might become a stumbling block to the weak. ^8:10 For^* if anyone sees you (the one who has knowledge) reclining at a table in an idol’s sanctuary, will not his conscience, being weak, be wrongly built up to eat the idol-sacrifices? ^8:11 And the weak brother (because of whom, Christ died) will be perishing upon the basis of your knowledge. ^8:12 Now thus, by sinning directly at the brethren and beating their weak conscience, you^° are sinning directly at Christ. ^8:13 Hence, if food is offending my brother, I should never eat an idol’s meats forever, in-order-that I should not offend my brother.