1NOW ABOUT FOOD consecrated to heathen deities.
Of course we all 'have knowledge', as you say. 2This 'knowledge' breeds conceit; it is love that builds. 3If anyone fancies that he knows, he knows nothing yet, in the true sense of knowing. But if a man loves, he is acknowledged by God.
4Well then, about eating this consecrated food: of course, as you say, 'a false god has no existence in the real world. There is no god but one.' 5For indeed, if there be so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many 'gods' and many 'lords'— 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all being comes, towards whom we move; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came to be, and we through him.
7But not everyone knows this. There are some who have been so accustomed to idolatry that even now they eat this food with a sense of its heathen consecration, and their conscience, being weak, is polluted by the eating. 8Certainly food will not bring us into God's presence: if we do not eat, we are none the worse, and if we eat, we are none the better. 9But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a pitfall for the weak. 10If a weak character sees you sitting down to a meal in a heathen temple—you, who 'have knowledge'—will not his conscience be emboldened to eat food consecrated to the heathen deity? 11This 'knowledge' of yours is utter disaster to the weak; the brother for whom Christ died. 12In thus sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience, you sin against Christ. 13And therefore, if food be the downfall of my brother, I will never eat meat any more, for I will not be the cause of my brother's downfall.
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