1 Y POR lo que hace á lo sacrificado á los ídolos, sabemos que todos tenemos ciencia. La ciencia hincha, mas la caridad edifica.

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 Y si alguno se imagina que sabe algo, aun no sabe nada como debe saber.

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

3 M as si alguno ama á Dios, el tal es conocido de él.

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

4 A cerca, pues, de las viandas que son saacrificadas á los ídolos, sabemos que el ídolo nada es en el mundo, y que no hay más de un Dios.

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 P orque aunque haya algunos que se llamen dioses, ó en el cielo, ó en la tierra (como hay muchos dioses y muchos señores),

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

6 N osotros empero no tenemos más de un Dios, el Padre, del cual son todas las cosas, y nosotros en él: y un Señor Jesucristo, por el cual son todas las cosas, y nosotros por él.

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 M as no en todos hay esta ciencia: porque algunos con conciencia del ídolo hasta aquí, comen como sacrificado á ídolos; y su conciencia, siendo flaca, es contaminada.

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 S i bien la vianda no nos hace más aceptos á Dios: porque ni que comamos, seremos más ricos; ni que no comamos, seremos más pobres.

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 M as mirad que esta vuestra libertad no sea tropezadero á los que son flacos.

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

10 P orque si te ve alguno, á ti que tienes ciencia, que estás sentado á la mesa en el lugar de los ídolos, ¿la conciencia de aquel que es flaco, no será adelantada á comer de lo sacrificado á los ídolos?

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 Y por tu ciencia se perderá el hermano flaco por el cual Cristo murió.

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 D e esta manera, pues, pecando contra los hermanos, é hiriendo su flaca conciencia, contra Cristo pecáis.

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

13 P or lo cual, si la comida es á mi hermano ocasión de caer, jamás comeré carne por no escandalizar á mi hermano.

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.