¹And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up; ²and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth him to know; ³and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him.

⁴Concerning 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; ⁵for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth—as there are gods many and lords many— ⁶yet to us is one God, the Father, of whom are the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are the all things, and we through Him.

⁷But not in all men is the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat it, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind; ⁹but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm, ¹⁰for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol’s temple reclining at meat—shall not his conscience—he being infirm—be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols, ¹¹and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died? ¹²and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience—in regard to Christ ye sin; ¹³wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh—to the age—that my brother I may not cause to stumble.

Chapter 9

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