1 Corinthians 8

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

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

So 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 For even if there are so-called gods,ⁱ whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet 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.

But 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. But food does not bring us near to God;^q we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block^r to the weak.^s For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t they be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?^t So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^u by your knowledge. When you sin against them^v in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^w 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