1 N ow about food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow.

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

2 I f anyone imagines that he has come to know and understand much, he does not yet perceive and recognize and understand as strongly and clearly, nor has he become as intimately acquainted with anything as he ought or as is necessary.

If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;

3 B ut if one loves God truly '> with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God '> recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].

but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

4 I n this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing (has no real existence) and that there is no God but one.

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.

5 F or although there may be so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many of them, both of gods and of lords and masters,

For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,

6 Y et for us there is one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we.

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

7 N evertheless, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being all their lives until now accustomed to idols, still consider the food as that sacrificed to an god; and their weak consciences become defiled and injured if they eat.

However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 N ow food will not cause our acceptance by God nor commend us to Him. Eating gives us no advantage; neither do we come short or become any worse if we do not eat.

But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.

9 O nly be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous.

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

10 F or suppose someone sees you, a man having knowledge reclining at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged and emboldened if he is weak and uncertain, and eat what is for the purpose of idol worship?

For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

11 A nd so by your enlightenment (your knowledge of spiritual things), this weak man is ruined (is lost and perishes)—the brother for whom Christ (the Messiah) died!

For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

12 A nd when you sin against your brethren in this way, wounding and damaging their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

13 T herefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling or of hindering, I will not eat flesh forever, lest I cause my brother to be tripped up and fall and to be offended.

Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.