1 Corinthians 8

Food Offered to Idols

1 Now concerning*8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1*ver. 4, 7, 10;See Acts 15:29food offered to idols: we know that *See Rom. 15:14"all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" *Rom. 14:3puffs up, *ch. 13:4-13but love builds up. 2 *Gal. 6:3;[ch. 3:18] If anyone imagines that he knows something, *[ch. 13:8,9,12;1 Tim. 6:3,4]he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, *Gal. 4:9;[Ex. 33:12,17;Jer. 1:5;Nah. 1:7;2 Tim. 2:19]he is known by God.*8:3 Greek him

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that *ch. 10:19;Isa. 41:24;[Acts 14:15] "an idol has no real existence," and that *ver. 6;See Deut. 4:35,39"there is no God but one." 5 For although there may be *2 Thess. 2:4so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— 6 yet *ver. 4;Mal. 2:10;Eph. 4:6for us there is one God, the Father, *See Rom. 11:36from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and *Eph. 4:5;[ch. 1:2;1 Tim. 2:5]; See John 13:13one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and *John 1:3;Col. 1:16through whom we exist.

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, *[Rom. 14:14,22,23] through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and *ch. 10:25,28,29their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 *Rom. 14:17Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care *[ch. 10:23;Rom. 14:21;Gal. 5:13] that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block *Rom. 14:1,2to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating*8:10 Greek reclining at table in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,*8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is *Rom. 14:15,20destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers*8:12 Or brothers and sisters and *[Zech. 2:8;Matt. 18:6] wounding their conscience when it is weak, *[Matt. 25:45]you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, *Rom. 14:13,21;[2 Cor. 6:3;11:29]if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.