Now about ^afood sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have ^bknowledge concerning this. Knowledge alone ^cmakes people self-righteously arrogant, but love that unselfishly seeks the best for others ^dbuilds up and encourages others to grow in wisdom. 2 ^aIf anyone imagines that he knows and understands anything of divine matters, without love, he has not yet ^bknown as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude, he ^ais known by Him as His very own and is greatly loved.

4 In this matter, then, of eating ^afood offered to idols, we know that ^ban idol is nothing in the world it has no real existence, and that ^cthere is no God but one. Deut 6:4 5 For even if ^athere are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us ^athere is but one God, ^bthe Father, ^1cwho is the source of all things, and we exist for Him; and ^done Lord, Jesus Christ, ^eby whom are all things that have been created, and we believers exist and have life and have been redeemed through Him. Mal 2:10

7 However, not all believers ^ahave this knowledge. But ^bsome, being accustomed throughout their lives to thinking of the idol until now as real and living, still eat food ¹as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and because their conscience is weak, it is defiled (guilty, ashamed) . 8 Now ^afood will not commend us to God nor bring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat. 9 Only ^abe careful that this liberty of yours this power to choose does not somehow become a stumbling block that is, a temptation to sin to the ^bweak in conscience. 10 For if someone sees you, a person having ^1aknowledge, ²eating in an idol’s temple, then if he is weak, will he not be encouraged to eat ^bthings sacrificed to idols and violate his own convictions? 11 For through ^ayour knowledge (spiritual maturity) this weak man ^bis ruined that is, he suffers in his spiritual life, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 ^aAnd when you sin against the brothers and sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience by confusing them, you sin ^bagainst Christ. 13 Therefore, ^aif my eating a certain food causes my brother to stumble (sin) , I will not eat such meat ever again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.