1 Corinthians 8:4–13

⁴Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ^t“an idol has no real existence,” and that ^u“there is no God but one.” ⁵For although there may be ^vso-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— ⁶yet ^wfor us there is one God, the Father, ^xfrom whom are all things and for whom we exist, and ^yone Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and ^zthrough whom we exist.

⁷However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, ^athrough former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and ^btheir conscience, being weak, is defiled. ^8cFood will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ⁹But take care ^dthat this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block ^eto the weak. ¹⁰For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating³ in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,⁴ if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? ¹¹And so by your knowledge this weak person is ^fdestroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. ¹²Thus, sinning against your brothers⁵ and ^gwounding their conscience when it is weak, ^hyou sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, ⁱif food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.