1Cor 8 | ISV | STEP | Concerning Food Offered to Idols Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 8

1 Concerning Food Offered to Idols

Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.Acts 15:20, 29; Rom 14:3, 10, 14, 22; 1Cor 10:19 2 If anyone thinks he knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it.1Cor 13:8-9, 12; Gal 6:3; 1Tim 6:4 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by him. ^{▼▼I.e. Other mss. lack by him}Exod 33:12, 17; Nah 1:7; Matt 7:23; Gal 4:9; 2Tim 2:19

4 Now concerning eating food offered to idols: We know that no idol is real in the world and that there is only one God.Deut 4:39; 6:4; Isa 41:24; 44:8; Mark 12:29; 1Cor 10:19; 12:6; Eph 4:6; 1Tim 2:5 5 For even if there are “gods” in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called “gods” and “lords”),John 10:34 6 yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything came into being and for whom we live. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom everything came into being and through whom we live.Mal 2:10; John 1:3; 13:13; Acts 2:36; 17:28; Rom 11:36; 1Cor 12:3; Eph 4:5-6; Phil 2:11; Col 1:6; Heb 1:2

7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idols that they still think they are eating food offered to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it becomes contaminated.Rom 14:14, 23; 1Cor 10:28-29 8 However, food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.Rom 14:17

9 But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak.Rom 14:13, 20; Gal 5:13 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, won't he?1Cor 10:28, 32 11 In that case, the weak brother for whom Christ died is destroyed by your knowledge.Rom 14:15, 20 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ.Matt 25:40, 45 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meat again, in order to keep my brother from falling.Rom 14:21; 2Cor 11:29