1 B ut concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

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 one think he knows anything, he knows nothing 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 one love God, he is known of him):

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

4 — concerning then the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol nothing in world, and that there no other God save 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 and if indeed there 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 one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom all things, and we by 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 B ut knowledge not in all: but some, with conscience of the idol, until now eat as of a thing sacrificed to idols; 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 meat does not commend us to God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage.

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 see lest anywise this your right itself be a stumbling-block 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 any one see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at table in an idol-house, shall not his conscience, he being weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to the idol?

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 a nd the weak, the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge.

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 N ow, thus sinning against the brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, 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 be a fall-trap to my brother, I will eat no flesh for ever, that I may not be a fall-trap to my brother.

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.