Now concerning athings sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have bknowledge. Knowledge cpuffs up, but love dbuilds up.Acts 15:20; 1 Cor 8:4, 7, 10Rom 15:14; 1 Cor 8:7, 10; 10:151 Cor 4:6Rom 14:19 2 aIf anyone thinks that he has known anything, he has not yet bknown as he ought to know;1 Cor 3:181 Cor 13:8-12; 1 Tim 6:4 3 but if anyone loves God, he ahas been known by Him.Ps 1:6; Jer 1:5; Amos 3:2; Rom 8:29; 11:2; Gal 4:9
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of athings sacrificed to idols, we know that 1an idol is bnothing in the world, and that cthere is no God but one.An idol has no real existenceActs 15:20; 1 Cor 8:1, 7, 10Acts 14:15; 1 Cor 10:19; Gal 4:8Deut 4:35, 39; 6:4; 1 Cor 8:6 5 For even if athere are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,2 Thess 2:4 6 yet for us athere is one God, bthe Father, cfrom whom are all things and we exist for Him, and done Lord, Jesus Christ, eby whom are all things, and we exist through Him.Deut 4:35, 39; 6:4; Is 46:9; Jer 10:6, 7; 1 Cor 8:4Mal 2:10; Eph 4:6Rom 11:36John 13:13; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 4:5; 1 Tim 2:5John 1:3; Col 1:16
7 However, not all men ahave this knowledge; but bsome, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.1 Cor 8:4ffRom 14:14, 22f 8 But afood will not 1commend us to God. We neither lack if we do not eat, nor abound if we do eat.Or presentRom 14:17 9 But asee to it that this 1authority of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the bweak.Or libertyRom 14:13, 21; 1 Cor 10:28; Gal 5:13Rom 14:1; 1 Cor 8:10f 10 For if someone sees you, who have aknowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be built up to eat bthings sacrificed to idols?1 Cor 8:4ffActs 15:20; 1 Cor 8:1, 4, 7 11 For through ayour knowledge he who is weak bis ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.1 Cor 8:4ffRom 14:15, 20 12 aAnd in that way, by sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin bagainst Christ.Matt 18:6; Rom 14:20Matt 25:45 13 Therefore, aif food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again—ever, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.Rom 14:21; 1 Cor 10:32; 2 Cor 6:3; 11:29