Food Offered to Idols
1 Now concerning8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1ver. 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 eating8:10 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 brothers8:12 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.