1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." "Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.2 If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.3 But if one loves God, one is known by him.4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"--6 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.7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.9 Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.10 For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?11 And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.12 Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.13 Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

1 περι δε των ειδωλοθυτων οιδαμεν οτι παντες γνωσιν εχομεν η γνωσις φυσιοι η δε αγαπη οικοδομει2 ει δε τις δοκει ειδεναι τι ουδεπω ουδεν εγνωκεν καθως δει γνωναι3 ει δε τις αγαπα τον θεον ουτος εγνωσται υπ αυτου4 περι της βρωσεως ουν των ειδωλοθυτων οιδαμεν οτι ουδεν ειδωλον εν κοσμω και οτι ουδεις θεος ετερος ει μη εις5 και γαρ ειπερ εισιν λεγομενοι θεοι ειτε εν ουρανω ειτε επι της γης ωσπερ εισιν θεοι πολλοι και κυριοι πολλοι6 αλλ ημιν εις θεος ο πατηρ εξ ου τα παντα και ημεις εις αυτον και εις κυριος ιησους χριστος δι ου τα παντα και ημεις δι αυτου7 αλλ ουκ εν πασιν η γνωσις τινες δε τη συνειδησει του ειδωλου εως αρτι ως ειδωλοθυτον εσθιουσιν και η συνειδησις αυτων ασθενης ουσα μολυνεται8 βρωμα δε ημας ου παριστησιν τω θεω ουτε γαρ εαν φαγωμεν περισσευομεν ουτε εαν μη φαγωμεν υστερουμεθα9 βλεπετε δε μηπως η εξουσια υμων αυτη προσκομμα γενηται τοις ασθενουσιν10 εαν γαρ τις ιδη σε τον εχοντα γνωσιν εν ειδωλειω κατακειμενον ουχι η συνειδησις αυτου ασθενους οντος οικοδομηθησεται εις το τα ειδωλοθυτα εσθιειν11 και απολειται ο ασθενων αδελφος επι τη ση γνωσει δι ον χριστος απεθανεν12 ουτως δε αμαρτανοντες εις τους αδελφους και τυπτοντες αυτων την συνειδησιν ασθενουσαν εις χριστον αμαρτανετε13 διοπερ ει βρωμα σκανδαλιζει τον αδελφον μου ου μη φαγω κρεα εις τον αιωνα ινα μη τον αδελφον μου σκανδαλισω