1 Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2 If anyone thinks he knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it.

3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.

4 Now concerning eating food offered to idols: We know that no idol is real in the world and that there is only one God.

5 For even if there are "gods" in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called "gods" and "lords"),

6 yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything came into being and for whom we live. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom everything came into being and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idols that they still think they are eating food offered to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it becomes contaminated.

8 However, food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

9 But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, won't he?

11 In that case, the weak brother for whom Christ died is destroyed by your knowledge.

12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ.

13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meat again, in order to keep my brother from falling.