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 puffs up, but love builds up.

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.

But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know 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, the same 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 no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other 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 though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth; as 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 to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live 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, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing 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. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

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 be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours 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 a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened 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!

And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, 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.

Thus, sinning against the brothers, 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 eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.