1 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.

¶ Now as concerning things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.

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

And if anyone thinks that they know anything, they know nothing yet as they ought to know.

3 B ut if he loves God, he is known by God also.

But if anyone loves God, the same is known of him.

4 W hat 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.

¶ As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

5 M en have thought there are many such gods and lords in the sky and on the earth.

For though there are some that are called gods, whether in heaven or in the earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

6 B ut 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.

but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 N ot 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.

¶ Howbeit there is not in everyone that knowledge, for some with conscience of the idol unto now, eat it as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 F ood 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.

But food does not make us more acceptable unto God; for neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we eat not are we the worse.

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

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumblingblock to those that are weak.

10 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.

For if anyone sees thee who hast this knowledge sit at food in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols?

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

and through thy knowledge the weak brother shall perish, for whom Christ died.

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

In this manner, therefore, sinning against the brethren and wounding their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 S o 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.

Therefore, if food makes my brother to fall, I will never eat flesh nor do anything which may cause my brother to fall.