The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

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- Chapter 8 -

(Ezekiel 14:1–11; Romans 14:13–23)

Now concerning those things that are sacrificed to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up.(a)

But if anyone considers himself to know anything, he does not yet know in the way that he ought to know.

For if anyone loves God, he is known by him.

But as to the foods that are immolated to idols, we know that an idol in the world is nothing, and that no one is God, except One.

For although there are things that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (if one even considers there to be many gods and many lords)(b)

yet we know that there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things are, and in whom we are, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and by whom we are.

But knowledge is not in everyone. For some persons, even now, with consent to an idol, eat what has been sacrificed to an idol. And their conscience, being infirm, becomes polluted.

Yet food does not commend us to God. For if we eat, we will not have more, and if we do not eat, we will not have less.

But be careful not to let your liberty become a cause of sin to those who are weak.

For if anyone sees someone with knowledge sitting down to eat in idolatry, will not his own conscience, being infirm, be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?

And should an infirm brother perish by your knowledge, even though Christ died for him?

So when you sin in this way against the brothers, and you harm their weakened conscience, then you sin against Christ.

Because of this, if food leads my brother to sin, I will never eat meat, lest I lead my brother to sin.(c)

Footnotes

(a)8:1 Knowledge puffs up, etc:Knowledge, without charity and humility, serves only to puff persons up.(Challoner)

(b)8:5 Gods many, etc:Reputed for such among the heathens.(Challoner)

(Ezekiel 14:1–11; Romans 14:13–23)

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.

But anyone who loves God is known by him.

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—

yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

However, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of an idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat are we the worse, nor if we eat are we the better.

But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.

For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.