Chapter 8
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 doesn’t yet know as he ought to know .
3 But anyone who loves God is known by him .
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 to us there is one God , the Father , of whom are all things , and we for him ; and one Lord , Jesus Christ , through whom are all things , and we live through him .
7 However , that knowledge isn’ t in all men . But some , with consciousness of an idol until now , eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol , and their conscience , being weak, is defiled .
8 But food will not commend us to God . For neither , if we don’ t eat are we the worse , nor if we eat are we the better .
9 But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol ’ s temple , won’ t his conscience , 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 eat no meat forever more , that I don’ t cause my brother to stumble .