1 Corinthians 8:1–13

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8Now about food sacrificed to idols:^a We know that “We all possess knowledge.”^b But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. ²Those who think they know something^c do not yet know as they ought to know.^{d 3}But whoever loves God is known by God.^ae

⁴So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:^f We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”^g and that “There is no God but one.”^{h 5}For even if there are so-called gods,ⁱ whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), ⁶yet for us there is but one God,^j the Father,^k from whom all things came^l and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,^m Jesus Christ, through whom all things cameⁿ and through whom we live.

⁷But not everyone possesses this knowledge.^o Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,^p it is defiled. ⁸But food does not bring us near to God;^q we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

⁹Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block^r to the weak.^{s 10}For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?^{t 11}So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^u by your knowledge. ¹²When you sin against them^v in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^{w 13}Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.^x