1 Corinthians 8

Food Offered to Idols

1 Now concerning ▼
▼ The expression  Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1
 b food offered to idols: we know that c “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” d puffs up e but love builds up. 2  f If anyone imagines that he knows something g he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God h he is known by God. ▼
▼ Greek him

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that j “an idol has no real existence,” and that k “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be l so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet m for us there is one God, the Father n from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and o one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and p through whom we exist.

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some q through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and r their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8  s Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care t that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block u to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating ▼
▼ Greek reclining at table
 in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged ▼
▼ Or fortified; Greek built up
 if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is x destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers ▼
▼ Or  brothers and sisters
 and z wounding their conscience when it is weak aa you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore ab if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

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