1 N ow concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.

I want to write about food that has been given as a gift in worship to a false god. We all know something about it. Knowing about it makes one feel important. But love makes one strong.

2 I f any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;

The person who thinks he knows all the answers still has a lot to learn.

3 b ut if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.

But if he loves God, he is known by God also.

4 C oncerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one.

What about food that has been given as a gift to a false god in worship? Is it right? We know that a false god is not a god at all. There is only one God! There is no other.

5 F or though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;

Men have thought there are many such gods and lords in the sky and on the earth.

6 y et to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

But we know there is only one God. He is the Father. All things are from Him. He made us for Himself. There is one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. He made all things. He keeps us alive.

7 H owbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

Not all men know this. They have given food as a gift in worship to a god as if the god were alive. Some men have done this all their lives. If they eat such food, their hearts tell them it is wrong.

8 B ut food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

Food will not bring us near to God. We are no worse if we do not eat it, or we are no better if we eat it.

9 B ut take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.

Since you are free to do as you please, be careful that this does not hurt a weak Christian.

10 F or if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

A Christian who is weak may see you eat food in a place where it has been given as a gift to false gods in worship. Since he sees you eat it, he will eat it also.

11 F or through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

You may make the weak Christian fall into sin by what you have done. Remember, he is a Christian brother for whom Christ died.

12 A nd thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.

When you sin against a weak Christian by making him do what is wrong, you sin against Christ.

13 W herefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

So then, if eating meat makes my Christian brother trip and fall, I will never eat it again. I do not want to make my Christian brother sin.