Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
If anyone thinks that he has come to know something, he does not yet know as he ought to know,
but if anyone loves God, that one is known by him.
Therefore, concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we all understand that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.”
For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many gods and many lords),
yet to us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we are for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we are through him.
But not everyone has that knowledge. Some are still so accustomed to idols that they eat as if it were food offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
But food will not bring us close to God, for neither, if we do not eat are we left behind, nor if we eat, do we have an overflow of credit.
But take care lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to the weak.
For if someone sees you who have knowledge reclining to eat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
And so by your knowledge, the one who is weak is ruined—this brother for whose sake Christ died.
And when you sin against the brothers in this way, and when you wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall away, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall away.