
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Ordinary B10
1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols:I we knowII that “all of us possess knowledge.”III Knowledge puffs up,IV but loveV builds up.VI
2 Anyone who claimsVII to knowVIII something does not yet have the necessaryIX knowledge;X 3 but anyone who lovesXI GodXII is known by him.
4 Hence, as to the eatingXIII of food offered to idols, we know that “no idolXIV in the worldXV really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.”
5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heavenXVI or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lordsXVII— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, JesusXVIII Christ,XIX through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomedXX to idols until now, they still think of the food they eatXXI as food offered to an idol; and their conscience,XXII being weak,XXIII is defiled.XXIV
8 “FoodXXV will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse offXXVI if we do not eat,XXVII and no better offXXVIII if we do.
9 But take careXXIX that this libertyXXX of yours does not somehow become a stumbling blockXXXI to the weak.
10 For if others seeXXXII you, who possess knowledge, eatingXXXIII in the temple of an idol,XXXIV might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouragedXXXV to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?
11 So by your knowledge those weakXXXVI believersXXXVII for whom Christ died are destroyed.XXXVIII
12 But when you thus sinXXXIX against membersXL of your family, and woundXLI their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling,XLII I will never eat meat,XLIII so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Image credit: “Antiques Museum in the Royal Palace, Stockholm. Roman Relief: Sacrifice of a bull.”