1 Corinthians 8
8
Food Offered to Idols
1Now concerning#8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1 #ver. 4, 7, 10; See Acts 15:29 food offered to idols: we know that #See Rom. 15:14 “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” #Rom. 14:3 puffs up, #ch. 13:4-13but love builds up. 2#Gal. 6:3; [ch. 3:18] If anyone imagines that he knows something, #[ch. 13:8, 9, 12; 1 Tim. 6:3, 4]he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, #Gal. 4:9; [Ex. 33:12, 17; Jer. 1:5; Nah. 1:7; 2 Tim. 2:19]he is known by God.#8:3 Greek him
4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that #ch. 10:19; Isa. 41:24; [Acts 14:15] “an idol has no real existence,” and that #ver. 6; See Deut. 4:35, 39“there is no God but one.” 5For although there may be #2 Thess. 2:4so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6yet #ver. 4; Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6 for us there is one God, the Father, #See Rom. 11:36 from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and #Eph. 4:5; [ch. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:5]; See John 13:13 one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and #John 1:3; Col. 1:16through whom we exist.
7However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, #[Rom. 14:14, 22, 23] through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and #ch. 10:25, 28, 29their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8#Rom. 14:17Food 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 #[ch. 10:23; Rom. 14:21; Gal. 5:13] that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block #Rom. 14:1, 2to the weak. 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating#8:10 Greek reclining at table in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,#8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11And so by your knowledge this weak person is #Rom. 14:15, 20destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12Thus, sinning against your brothers#8:12 Or brothers and sisters and #[Zech. 2:8; Matt. 18:6] wounding their conscience when it is weak, #[Matt. 25:45]you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, #Rom. 14:13, 21; [2 Cor. 6:3; 11:29]if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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1 Corinthians 8
8
The Question About Food Sacrificed to Idols
1Now I’d like to talk about food that has been sacrificed to statues of gods. We know that “We all have knowledge.” But knowledge makes people proud, while love builds them up. 2Those who think they know something still don’t know as they should. 3But whoever loves God is known by God.
4So then, here’s what I say about eating food sacrificed to idols. We know that “an idol really is nothing at all in the world.” We know that “there is only one God.” 5There may be so-called gods either in heaven or on earth. In fact, there are many “gods” and many “lords.” 6But for us there is only one God, the Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things came through him and we live through him.
7But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food, they think of it as having been sacrificed to real gods. And because their conscience is weak, they feel guilty. 8Eating sacrificial food doesn’t prove how close to God we are. We aren’t any worse off if we don’t eat it, and we aren’t any better off if we do.
9So be careful how you use your rights. Make sure you don’t cause someone who’s weaker than you to fall into sin. 10Suppose that you, with all of your knowledge, are eating in a temple of one of those gods. And suppose someone whose conscience is weak sees you. Won’t that person think it’s okay to eat food sacrificed to honor “gods” and be encouraged to do so? 11If that happens, then your knowledge will destroy that weaker brother or sister Christ died for. 12If you sin against them that way and wound their weak conscience, you’re actually sinning against Christ. 13So if eating food sacrificed to idols would cause my brother or sister to fall into sin, I’ll never eat that food again. That way, I won’t ever cause them to fall.
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