Take Care with Your Liberty
8 Now concerning (A)things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have (B)knowledge. Knowledge [a](C)makes arrogant, but love (D)edifies. 2 (E)If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet (F)known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he (G)is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of (H)things sacrificed to idols, we know that [b]there is (I)no such thing as an idol in the world, and that (J)there is no God but one. 5 For even if (K)there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us (L)there is but one God, (M)the Father, (N)from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and (O)one Lord, Jesus Christ, (P)by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However not all men (Q)have this knowledge; but (R)some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But (S)food will not [c]commend us to God; we are neither [d]the worse if we do not eat, nor [e]the better if we do eat. 9 But (T)take care that this [f]liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the (U)weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have (V)knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat (W)things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through (X)your knowledge he who is weak (Y)is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 (Z)And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin (AA)against Christ. 13 Therefore, (AB)if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 Lit puffs up
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 Lit nothing is an idol in the world; i.e. an idol has no real existence
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Or present
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Lit lacking
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Lit abounding
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 Lit right
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : Acts 15:20; 1 Cor 8:4, 7, 10
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : Rom 15:14; 1 Cor 8:7, 10; 10:15
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : 1 Cor 4:6
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 : Rom 14:19
- 1 Corinthians 8:2 : 1 Cor 3:18
- 1 Corinthians 8:2 : 1 Cor 13:8-12; 1 Tim 6:4
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 : Ps 1:6; Jer 1:5; Amos 3:2; Rom 8:29; 11:2; Gal 4:9
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 : Acts 15:20; 1 Cor 8:1, 7, 10
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 : Acts 14:15; 1 Cor 10:19; Gal 4:8
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 : Deut 4:35, 39; 6:4; 1 Cor 8:6
- 1 Corinthians 8:5 : 2 Thess 2:4
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Deut 4:35, 39; 6:4; Is 46:9; Jer 10:6, 7; 1 Cor 8:4
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Mal 2:10; Eph 4:6
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Rom 11:36
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : John 13:13; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 4:5; 1 Tim 2:5
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 : John 1:3; Col 1:16
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 : 1 Cor 8:4ff
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 : Rom 14:14, 22f
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 : Rom 14:17
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 : Rom 14:13, 21; 1 Cor 10:28; Gal 5:13
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 : Rom 14:1; 1 Cor 8:10f
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 : 1 Cor 8:4ff
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 : Acts 15:20; 1 Cor 8:1, 4, 7
- 1 Corinthians 8:11 : 1 Cor 8:4ff
- 1 Corinthians 8:11 : Rom 14:15, 20
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 : Matt 18:6; Rom 14:20
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 : Matt 25:45
- 1 Corinthians 8:13 : Rom 14:21; 1 Cor 10:32; 2 Cor 6:3; 11:29