[1] And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love builds up; [2] and if anyone thinks to know anything, he has not yet known anything according as it is required to know; [3] and if anyone loves God, this one has been known by Him. [4] Concerning the eating then of the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one; [5] for even if there are those called gods, whether in Heaven, whether on earth—as there are many gods and many lords— [6] yet to us [is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom [are] all things, and we through Him; [7] but not in all men [is] the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, until now, eat [it] as a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. [8] But food does not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind; [9] but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the weak, [10] for if anyone may see you that have knowledge in an idol’s temple reclining to eat, will not his conscience—he being weak—be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols? [11] For the [one] being weak—the brother for whom Christ died—will perish by your knowledge. [12] And thus sinning in regard to the brothers, and striking their weak conscience—you sin in regard to Christ; [13] for this reason, if food causes my brother to stumble, I may not eat flesh—throughout the age—that I may not cause my brother to stumble.
