1 Corinthians 8
8
Food Offered to Idols
1In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. 2In fact, people who think they know so much don't know anything at all. 3But God has no doubts about who loves him.
4Even though food is offered to idols, we know that none of the idols in this world are alive. After all, there is only one God. 5Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords. 6We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.
7Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. 8But food doesn't bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don't eat, and we are no better off if we do.
9Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. 10You know all this, and so it doesn't bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. 11Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. 12When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13So if I hurt one of the Lord's followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
1 Corinthians 8
8
Food Offered to Idols
1#1Co 8:7; 8:4Now as concerning food offered to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge produces arrogance, but love edifies. 2#1Co 3:18; 13:8–9So if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3#Gal 4:9; Ex 33:12But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4#Dt 6:4; 4:39So concerning the eating of foods that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5#2Th 2:4For there are those who are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there are many gods and many lords. 6#Jn 1:3; Mal 2:10; Ro 11:36But for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist. And there is one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7#Ro 14:14; 1Co 8:9–10However, not everyone has this knowledge. Some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat the food as a thing offered to an idol. So their weak conscience is defiled. 8#Ro 14:17But food does not commend us to God. Neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9#Gal 5:13; Ro 14:20–21; 14:1–2But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10For if anyone sees you, who have knowledge, eating in the idol’s temple, shall the conscience of him who is weak not be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols, 11#Ro 14:15; 1Co 8:13and by your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12#Mt 25:45; 18:6When you thus sin against the brothers, wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13#Ro 14:21; 2Co 11:29Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to stumble.
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