1 Corinthians 8
8
1 NOW ABOUT food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].
2 If anyone imagines that he has come to know and understand much [of divine things, without love], he does not yet perceive and recognize and understand as strongly and clearly, nor has he become as intimately acquainted with anything as he ought or as is necessary.
3 But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].
4 In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing (has no real existence) and that there is no God but one. [Deut. 6:4.]
5 For although there may be so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many of them, both of gods and of lords and masters,
6 Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. [Mal. 2:10.]
7 Nevertheless, not all [believers] possess this knowledge. But some, through being all their lives until now accustomed to [thinking of] idols [as real and living], still consider the food [offered to an idol] as that sacrificed to an [actual] god; and their weak consciences become defiled and injured if they eat [it].
8 Now food [itself] will not cause our acceptance by God nor commend us to Him. Eating [food offered to idols] gives us no advantage; neither do we come short or become any worse if we do not eat [it].
9 Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin].
10 For suppose someone sees you, a man having knowledge [of God, with an intelligent view of this subject and] reclining at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged and emboldened [to violate his own conscientious scruples] if he is weak and uncertain, and eat what [to him] is for the purpose of idol worship?
11 And so by your enlightenment (your knowledge of spiritual things), this weak man is ruined (is lost and perishes)–the brother for whom Christ (the Messiah) died!
12 And when you sin against your brethren in this way, wounding and damaging their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if [my eating a] food is a cause of my brother's falling or of hindering [his spiritual advancement], I will not eat [such] flesh forever, lest I cause my brother to be tripped up and fall and to be offended.
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1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
1 Corinthians 8
8
Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols
1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.”#Considered by many interpreters to be a slogan used by the Corinthians to justify their behavior Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2If anyone thinks he knows anything, he has not yet known as it is necessary to know. 3But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him.
4Therefore, concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world” and that “there is no God except one.”#Considered by many interpreters to be slogans used by the Corinthians to justify their behavior 5For even if after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many gods and many lords,
6yet to us there is one God, the Father,
from whom are all things, and we are for him,
and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things, and we are through him.
7But this knowledge is not in everyone. But some, being accustomed until now to the idol, eat this food as food sacrificed to idols, and their conscience, because it#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is”) which is understood as causal is weak, is defiled. 8But food does not bring us close to God. For neither if we eat do we have more, nor if we do not eat do we lack.#Some manuscripts omit “For” and have “Neither if we do not eat do we lack, nor if we do eat do we have more” 9But watch out lest somehow this right of yours becomes a cause for stumbling to the weak. 10For if someone should see you who has knowledge reclining for a meal in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, because it#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is”) which is understood as causal is weak, be strengthened so that he eats the food sacrificed to idols? 11For the one who is weak—the brother for whom Christ died—is destroyed by your knowledge. 12Now if you#*Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“sin”) which is understood as conditional sin in this way against the brothers and wound their conscience, which is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat forever#Literally “for the age”, in order that I may not cause my brother to sin.
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