1 Corinthians 8

Food Offered to Idols

1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: Yeah, we all got knowledge, but knowledge by itself can make folks prideful. Love is what really builds people up.

2 If somebody thinks they know everything, they still do not know like they should.

3 But if somebody loves God, that person is known by Him.

4 So when it comes to eating food offered to idols, we know idols are not really gods at all. There is only one true God.

5 Yeah, people got all kinds of so-called “gods” and “lords” in heaven and on earth,

6 but for us there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for Him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom everything exists and through whom we got life.

7 But not everybody understands that yet. Some people used to worship idols for so long that when they eat food connected to idols, their conscience still feels dirty and weak.

8 Food itself is not what brings us closer to God. We are not better if we eat it, and we are not worse if we do not.

9 But you all better be careful that your freedom do not become a trap for somebody whose faith is weak.

10 Imagine somebody with a weak conscience sees you, someone they look up to, eating in an idol’s temple. Could not that push them to do something they believe is wrong,

11 Then because of your “knowledge,” that weaker brother or sister Christ died for ends up spiritually wrecked

12 When you all sin against believers like that and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ Himself.

13 So if food causes my brother or sister to stumble, then I would rather never eat meat again than make somebody fall away from God.