1 Corinthians 8

₁Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. ₂If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. ₃But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

₄Therefore, 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.” ₅For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— ₆yet 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.

₇However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ₈Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ₉But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. ₁₀For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? ₁₁And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. ₁₂Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. ₁₃Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.