Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: We know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
If anyone imagines that they know something, they do not yet know as they ought to know.
But if anyone loves God, they are known by God.
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God but one.
Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—
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.
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, because of your knowledge, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?
So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed.
But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
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