Food Offered to Idols
8 Now concerning[a] (A)food offered to idols: we know that (B)“all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” (C)puffs up, (D)but love builds up. 2 (E)If anyone imagines that he knows something, (F)he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, (G)he is known by God.[b]
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that (H)“an idol has no real existence,” and that (I)“there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be (J)so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet (K)for us there is one God, the Father, (L)from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and (M)one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and (N)through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, (O)through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and (P)their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 (Q)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 But take care (R)that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block (S)to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating[c] in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged,[d] if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is (T)destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[e] and (U)wounding their conscience when it is weak, (V)you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (W)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 Greek him
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Greek reclining at table
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 Or brothers and sisters
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : ver. 4, 7, 10; See Acts 15:29
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : See Rom. 15:14
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : Rom. 14:3
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : ch. 13:4-13
- 1 Corinthians 8:2 : Gal. 6:3; [ch. 3:18]
- 1 Corinthians 8:2 : [ch. 13:8, 9, 12; 1 Tim. 6:3, 4]
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 : Gal. 4:9; [Ex. 33:12, 17; Jer. 1:5; Nah. 1:7; 2 Tim. 2:19]
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 : ch. 10:19; Isa. 41:24; [Acts 14:15]
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 : ver. 6; See Deut. 4:35, 39
- 1 Corinthians 8:5 : 2 Thess. 2:4
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : ver. 4; Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : See Rom. 11:36
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Eph. 4:5; [ch. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:5]; See John 13:13
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : John 1:3; Col. 1:16
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 : [Rom. 14:14, 22, 23]
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 : ch. 10:25, 28, 29
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 : Rom. 14:17
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 : [ch. 10:23; Rom. 14:21; Gal. 5:13]
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 : Rom. 14:1, 2
- 1 Corinthians 8:11 : Rom. 14:15, 20
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 : [Zech. 2:8; Matt. 18:6]
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 : [Matt. 25:45]
- 1 Corinthians 8:13 : Rom. 14:13, 21; [2 Cor. 6:3; 11:29]