1 Corinthians 8
8
About Food Offered to Idols
1Now I will write about meat that is sacrificed#8:1 sacrificed Killed and offered as a gift to show worship. Also in verse 10. to idols. It is certainly true that “we all have knowledge,” as you say. But this knowledge only fills people with pride. It is love that helps the church grow stronger. 2Those who think they know something do not yet know anything as they should. 3But whoever loves God is known by God.
4So this is what I say about eating meat: We know that an idol is really nothing in the world, and we know that there is only one God. 5It’s really not important if there are things called gods in heaven or on earth—and there are many of these “gods” and “lords” out there. 6For us there is only one God, and 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 him, and we also have life through him.
7But not all people know this. Some 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. So when they eat it, they feel guilty. 8But food will not bring us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us closer to him.
9But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom to eat anything may make those who have doubts about what they can eat fall into sin. 10You understand that it’s all right to eat anything, so you can eat even in an idol’s temple. But someone who has doubts might see you eating there, and this might encourage them to eat meat sacrificed to idols too. But they really think it is wrong. 11So this weak brother or sister—someone Christ died for—is lost because of your better understanding. 12When you sin against your brothers and sisters in Christ in this way and you hurt them by causing them to do things they feel are wrong, you are also sinning against Christ. 13So if the food I eat makes another believer fall into sin, I will never eat meat again. I will stop eating meat, so that I will not make my brother or sister sin.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
1 Corinthians 8
8
1 #
Rom 15.14. Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” “Knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2#1 Cor 3.18; 13.8,9,12. If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3#Gal 4.9; Rom 8.29. But if one loves God, one is known by him.
4 #
1 Cor 10.19; Deut 6.4. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” — 6#Mal 2.10; Eph 4.6; Rom 11.36; 1 Cor 1.2; Eph 4.5; Jn 1.3; Col 1.16. yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 #
1 Cor 8.4-5. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8#Rom 14.17. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9#1 Cor 8.10-11; Rom 14.1. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11#Rom 14.15,20. And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12#Mt 18.6; Rom 14.20. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13#Rom 14.21. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.
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