1 Corinthians 8
8
About Food Offered to Idols
1Now I will write about meat that is sacrificed to idols. We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs you up with pride, but love builds up. 2Whoever thinks he knows something does not yet know anything as he should. 3But he who loves God is known by God.
4So this is what I say about eating meat sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is really nothing in the world. And we know that there is only one God. 5It is really not important if there are things called gods, in heaven or on earth. (And there are many things that people call “gods” and “lords.”) 6But for us there is only one God. He is our Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord—Jesus Christ. All things were made through Jesus, and we also have life through him.
7But not all people know this. Until now, some people have had the habit of worshiping idols. So now when they eat meat, they still feel as if it belongs to an idol. They are not sure that it is right to eat this meat. When they eat it, they feel guilty. 8But food will not make us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God. And eating does not make us better in God’s sight.
9But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom may cause those who are weak in faith to fall into sin. 10Suppose one of you who has knowledge eats in an idol’s temple.# Building where a false god is worshiped. Someone who is weak in faith might see you eating there. This would encourage him to eat meat sacrificed to idols. But he really thinks it is wrong. 11So this weak brother is ruined because of your “knowledge.” And Christ died for this brother. 12When you sin against your brothers in Christ like this and cause them to do what they feel is wrong, you are also sinning against Christ. 13So if the food I eat makes my brother fall into sin, I will never eat meat again. I will stop eating meat, so that I will not cause my brother to sin.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
I Corinthians 8
8
Be Sensitive to Conscience
1Now #Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 8:4, 7, 10concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have #Rom. 14:14knowledge. #Rom. 14:3Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2And #(1 Cor. 13:8–12); Gal. 6:3; (1 Tim. 6:4)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that #Is. 41:24an idol is nothing in the world, #Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:6and that there is no other God but one. 5For even if there are #(John 10:34)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6yet #Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6for us there is one God, the Father, #Acts 17:28of whom are all things, and we for Him; and #John 13:13; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 4:5; (1 Tim. 2:5)one Lord Jesus Christ, #John 1:3; (Col. 1:16, 17); Heb. 1:2through whom are all things, and #Rom. 5:11; Rev. 4:11; 5:9, 10through whom we live.
7However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, #(1 Cor. 10:28)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is #Rom. 14:14, 22defiled. 8But #(Rom. 14:17)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9But #Gal. 5:13beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become #Rom. 14:13, 21; 1 Cor. 10:28a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not #1 Cor. 10:28the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11And #Rom. 14:15, 20because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12But #Matt. 25:40when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, #Rom. 14:21; 1 Cor. 10:32; 2 Cor. 6:3; 11:29if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.