1 E n cuanto a lo que se ofrece a los ídolos, es cierto que todos sabemos algo de eso. El conocimiento envanece, pero el amor 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 S i alguno cree saber algo, todavía no lo sabe como se debe saber;

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

3 p ero si alguno ama a Dios, es porque Dios ya lo conoce.

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

4 E n cuanto a los alimentos que se ofrecen a los ídolos, sabemos que un ídolo no tiene valor alguno en este mundo, y que solamente hay 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 Y aunque haya algunos que se llamen dioses, ya sea en el cielo o en la tierra (así 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 p ara nosotros hay un solo Dios, el Padre, de quien proceden todas las cosas, y a quien nosotros pertenecemos; y un solo Señor, Jesucristo, por medio de quien existen todas las cosas, incluso nosotros mismos.

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 P ero no todos tienen este conocimiento. Algunos, que todavía están acostumbrados a los ídolos, comen de lo que se ofrece a los ídolos, y su conciencia, que es débil, se contamina.

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 E s verdad que los alimentos no nos acercan más a Dios, pues no somos mejores por comer ni peores por no comer;

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 p ero tengan cuidado de que esa libertad que ustedes tienen no se convierta en motivo de tropiezo para los que son débiles.

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

10 P orque si a ti, que tienes conocimiento, te ve sentado a la mesa, en un lugar de ídolos, alguien cuya conciencia es débil, ¿acaso no se sentirá estimulado a comer de lo que se ofrece a 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 E n tal caso, ese hermano débil, por quien Cristo murió, se perderá por causa de tu conocimiento.

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 Y así, al pecar ustedes contra los hermanos y herir su débil conciencia, pecan contra Cristo.

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

13 P or lo tanto, si la comida es motivo de que mi hermano caiga, jamás comeré carne, para no poner a mi hermano en peligro de caer.

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.