1 Corinthians 8

1Now I will write about meat that is sacrificed to idols. It is certainly true that we all have knowledge. But this knowledge only fills people with pride. It is love that helps the church grow stronger.

2Those who think they know something do not yet know anything as they should.

3But whoever loves God is known by God.

4Now I want to talk about meat that has been sacrificed to idols. We all know that no idol in the world is alive. We know that there is only one true living God.

5Many people say there are gods in heaven or on earth. We know that people worship many gods and say they are lords.

6For us there is only one God, and He is our Father. All things came from the Father, and we live for Him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things were made through Him, and we also have life through Him.

7But not all the believers understand that there is only one God. They served these idols for many years before they became believers. They think that when they eat meat that was sacrificed to idols, they serve those idols. And because these believers feel guilty very easily, they think that they have sinned.

8But food will not bring us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us closer to Him.

9Some of you think it is not wrong to eat meat that was sacrificed to idols. Be careful. Other believers may sin when they see what you eat.

10Suppose you believe it is not wrong to eat meat sacrificed to idols. Now suppose someone with weak faith sees you eating in an idol's temple. That person may think they too can eat there. They may even start serving those idols.

11Their faith is not strong, and because you think it is not wrong to eat meat that was sacrificed to idols, they may be lost. But they are a believer, and Christ died for them.

12When you do something that would make other believers feel guilty, then you sin against Christ.

13That is why I make this choice. Suppose food makes a fellow believer sin. Then I will never eat meat again. I will never make other believers sin.