Christian Liberty and the Weak Conscience
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
1Cor.8.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Περι: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ειδωλοθυτων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- γνωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γνωσις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- φυσιοι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- αγαπη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- οικοδομει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 13:2 (verbal): Explicit contrast between knowledge and love—Paul says knowledge without love amounts to nothing, echoing 8:1's 'knowledge... but love builds up.'
- 1 Corinthians 8:10-13 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same argument: possessing knowledge about idols can 'puff up' but must be restrained by love so as not to cause a weaker brother to stumble.
- Romans 14:15 (thematic): Paul warns that if your food causes a brother to be hurt, you are 'not walking in love'—the principle that love should govern exercise of Christian liberty echoes 1 Cor 8:1.
- Ephesians 4:15 (thematic): Calls for speaking the truth 'in love,' paralleling the idea that knowledge/truth must be expressed and used under the controlling principle of love to edify others.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
- Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that we all possess knowledge.
1Cor.8.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- δοκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εγνωκεναι: VERB,perf,act,inf
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ουπω: ADV
- εγνω: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- καθως: CONJ
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- γνωναι·: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Galatians 6:3 (verbal): Similar wording and idea: if anyone thinks he is something (or knows something) when he is nothing, he deceives himself—warning against presumptuous self-knowledge.
- Romans 12:3 (thematic): Paul’s broader exhortation not to think of oneself more highly than one ought—caution about overestimating one’s knowledge and importance.
- 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 (structural): Closely related Pauline theme that knowledge is partial now (‘we know in part’) and will be completed later—echoes the claim that one has not yet known as one ought.
- Proverbs 26:12 (thematic): Wisdom literature parallel: the man who is wise in his own eyes is castigated—proverbial critique of self-assured wisdom that mirrors the Corinthians warning.
- Jeremiah 9:23-24 (thematic): Prophetic admonition not to boast in wisdom, might or riches but in knowing the LORD—contrasts human claims to true knowledge and echoes divine perspective on ‘knowing.’
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone imagines that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.
- If anyone imagines that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.
1Cor.8.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- δε: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- αγαπα: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εγνωσται: VERB,perf,mp,ind,3,sg
- υπ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Galatians 4:9 (verbal): Uses nearly identical idea/phrase — believers are not merely knowing God but are ‘known by God’ (Greek language and concept closely parallel 1 Cor 8:3).
- John 10:14–15 (thematic): Jesus speaks of reciprocal knowledge between himself and his sheep (‘I know my own and my own know me’), echoing the mutual knowing between God and those who love him in 1 Cor 8:3.
- 1 John 4:7 (verbal): Links love and knowledge of God: ‘whoever loves has been born of God and knows God,’ closely connecting love for God with being known by God as in 1 Cor 8:3.
- 1 John 2:3 (thematic): States that keeping God’s commandments is the mark by which we know that we know him — relating moral/relational evidence of knowing God to the claim that lovers of God are recognized by him.
- Romans 8:16 (thematic): The Spirit testifies that believers are God’s children, a complementary motif of divine recognition/affirmation (being known/acknowledged by God) similar to the claim in 1 Cor 8:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
- But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.
1Cor.8.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Περι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- βρωσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ουν: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ειδωλοθυτων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ειδωλον: NOUN,nom-acc,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- κοσμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- εις: PREP
Parallels
- Deut 6:4 (allusion): The Shema's declaration 'The LORD our God, the LORD is one' is the classic Jewish monotheistic formula echoed by Paul's 'there is no God but one.'
- 1 Cor 8:6 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same chapter: Paul expands 'one God' into 'one God, the Father' (and 'one Lord, Jesus Christ'), developing the monotheistic claim the verse asserts.
- Rom 1:21-23 (thematic): Paul's argument that people 'exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images' treats idols as not truly divine, thematically resonant with 1 Cor 8:4's claim that an idol is nothing and there is only one God.
- Acts 17:29-31 (thematic): In Paul's Mars Hill speech he denies that the divine is like gold or stone and criticizes pagan idolatry—a similar theological critique of idols underlying 'no idol in the world'.
- 1 Cor 10:20-21 (structural): Another passage in the same letter on food offered to idols: Paul warns that sacrifices to idols are to demons and insists one cannot partake of both the Lord's table and demon-tables, applying the theological point about idols' status to practice.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence in the world, and that there is no God but one.
- Therefore concerning the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.
1Cor.8.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- ειπερ: PART
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- λεγομενοι: VERB,pres,mp,ptc,nom,pl,m
- θεοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ειτε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ειτε: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ωσπερ: ADV
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- θεοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- κυριοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Psalm 82:1 (verbal): Uses the language of 'gods' in a divine council setting ('God presides... among the gods'); background for the OT/Second Temple use of the term 'gods' that Paul acknowledges as 'so‑called gods.' (See also v.6 'I said, “You are gods.”')
- Deuteronomy 10:17 (verbal): Describes YHWH as 'God of gods and Lord of lords,' contrasting Israel's one supreme God with the notion of many lesser 'gods' or 'lords'—a theological counterpoint to the plural language in 1 Cor 8:5.
- Deuteronomy 6:4 (thematic): The Shema's affirmation of the oneness of YHWH ('The LORD our God, the LORD is one') forms the monotheistic framework that Paul immediately invokes in 1 Cor 8:6 in contrast to 'many gods and many lords.'
- John 10:34-36 (quotation): Jesus appeals to Psalm 82's use of 'gods' to explain scriptural language about divine titles. This New Testament handling of the term helps illuminate Paul's remark about 'so‑called gods' and how such language can be understood.
- Acts 17:23 (thematic): Paul's address in Athens notes the Athenians' altars to many gods (including an 'unknown god'), reflecting the Greco‑Roman context of plural 'gods' and 'lords' that Paul confronts in 1 Cor 8:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- For though there may be so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—indeed there are many 'gods' and many 'lords'—
- For though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—indeed there are many gods and many lords—
1Cor.8.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλ᾽ημιν: CONJ+PRON,dat,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εξ: PREP
- ου: PART,neg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δι᾽ου: PREP+REL,gen,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- δι᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Romans 11:36 (verbal): Uses nearly identical triadic formula: 'from him and through him and to him are all things,' echoing 8:6's 'from him are all things... and through him are all things.'
- John 1:3 (verbal): Affirms that 'all things were made through him,' paralleling 8:6's claim that 'through Jesus Christ are all things.'
- Colossians 1:16-17 (thematic): Describes Christ as agent of creation ('by him all things were created') and sustainer ('in him all things hold together'), closely matching 8:6's emphasis on Christ as the means through whom all things exist.
- Ephesians 4:6 (structural): Proclaims 'one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all,' paralleling 8:6's confession of one God the Father and the mediating role of Christ for all things.
- 1 Timothy 2:5 (thematic): Affirms monotheism together with the unique role of Christ ('one God, and one mediator... Christ Jesus'), resonating with 8:6's pairing of 'one God the Father' and 'one Lord Jesus Christ.'
Alternative generated candidates
- for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and we through him.
- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.
1Cor.8.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αλλ᾽ουκ: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γνωσις·τινες: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- συνηθεια: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εως: CONJ
- αρτι: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ειδωλου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ως: ADV
- ειδωλοθυτον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- εσθιουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- συνειδησις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ασθενης: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ουσα: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,f
- μολυνεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (structural): Immediate context: contrasts mere 'knowledge' with love and the proper use of conscience and discernment for believers, framing the weak/strong distinction.
- 1 Corinthians 8:10-13 (verbal): Direct continuation of the chapter: warns that eating meat offered to idols can cause a weaker brother's conscience to be defiled and lead to sin—same concern about weakened conscience.
- 1 Corinthians 10:28-30 (thematic): Addresses eating food offered to idols and the responsibility not to cause others to stumble; links knowledge, conscience, and the impact of one’s actions on weaker believers.
- Romans 14:14, 20-23 (thematic): Discusses differing consciences over foods (nothing unclean in itself) and insists that whatever is not from faith is sin, urging sensitivity to others' consciences—parallels the 'weak conscience' motif.
- Acts 15:29 (allusion): Jerusalem Council's injunction to abstain from food sacrificed to idols (and related practices) reflects an early communal response to issues of food offered to idols for the sake of conscience and fellowship.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet not all possess this knowledge. For some, accustomed to the idol until now, eat it as food sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience—being weak—is defiled.
- Yet not everyone has this knowledge. Some, being accustomed to an idol until now, eat of it as food offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
1Cor.8.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- βρωμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- ου: PART,neg
- παραστησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω·ουτε: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- εαν: CONJ
- φαγωμεν: VERB,aor,act,sub,1,pl
- περισσευομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- ουτε: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- φαγωμεν: VERB,aor,act,sub,1,pl
- υστερουμεθα: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- Rom.14:2-3 (thematic): Paul addresses the same issue of divergent eating practices (one eats all things, another eats vegetables) and insists believers must not judge one another—eating or not eating does not determine standing before God.
- Rom.14:17-18 (thematic): Declares that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit, underscoring that food practices do not commend someone to God.
- 1Cor.10:25-26 (verbal): Paul tells believers to eat whatever is sold in the meat market and not to question for conscience’ sake, appealing to God’s ownership of creation—consistent with the claim that food does not commend us to God.
- Col.2:20-23 (allusion): Paul warns that voluntary regulations and ascetic rules (including dietary observances) have an appearance of wisdom but are of little value in restraining the flesh, paralleling the point that eating or not eating confers no real standing before God.
- Acts 15:28-29 (structural): The Jerusalem Council issues limited dietary-advice to Gentile believers for the sake of conscience and unity, reflecting the early church’s practical engagement with food-related conscience issues addressed by Paul.
Alternative generated candidates
- Food will not commend us to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
- But food does not commend us to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
1Cor.8.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- βλεπετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- πως: ADV
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- προσκομμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- γενηται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ασθενεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Romans 14:13 (verbal): Paul urges Christians not to put a stumbling block (πρόσκομμα) before a brother—language and concern parallel to guarding that one's freedom not become a scandal to the weak.
- Romans 14:21 (thematic): Declares it is good not to do anything that causes a brother to stumble (σκανδαλίζει), echoing the ethical restraint urged when exercising liberty toward weaker consciences.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-29 (structural): Same letter develops the principle: ‘All things are lawful…but not all things are helpful’; Paul applies it to food offered to idols and warns against causing others to stumble for the sake of one’s freedom.
- Galatians 5:13 (thematic): Speaks of Christian freedom tempered by love—'do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another'—parallel concern for how freedom affects others.
- Matthew 18:6 (allusion): Jesus' warning about causing 'little ones' to sin (become stumbling blocks) echoes the moral gravity of actions that lead others into harm or offense.
Alternative generated candidates
- But take care that this liberty of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- Take care lest this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Cor.8.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ιδη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- εχοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,n
- γνωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- ειδωλειω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- κατακειμενον: VERB,pres,mid,part,acc,sg,m
- ουχι: PART
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- συνειδησις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ασθενους: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- οντος: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- οικοδομηθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ειδωλοθυτα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εσθιειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 (verbal): Immediate context—Paul warns that your freedom might become a stumbling block to the weak, the same concern raised about eating in an idol's temple.
- 1 Corinthians 10:28-30 (verbal): Discusses eating meat offered to idols when invited by outsiders and instructs refraining if told it was sacrificed, for the sake of another's conscience—same issue of food, idols and not offending others.
- Romans 14:15 (thematic): States that if your food causes a brother to be hurt you are not walking in love—same principle of relinquishing liberty to protect a weaker conscience.
- Romans 14:20-21 (thematic): “Do not destroy the work of God for food…It is good not to eat meat…if it makes your brother stumble,” echoing Paul’s call to avoid causing another’s conscience to err.
- Acts 15:29 (structural): Jerusalem Council ruling to abstain from food polluted by idols—an early church regulation addressing the communal problem of idol-associated food that underlies Paul’s pastoral concern.
Alternative generated candidates
- For if someone with a weak conscience sees you—who have knowledge—eating in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, because of you, be encouraged to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?
- For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience—if he is weak—be strengthened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?
1Cor.8.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απολλυται: VERB,pres,mid/pas,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ασθενων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ση: ADJ,poss,dat,sg,f
- γνωσει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αδελφος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δι᾽ον: PREP+PRON,acc,sg,m
- Χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απεθανεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1Cor.8.12-13 (structural): Immediate context: Paul draws the ethical conclusion (will not eat meat if it causes a brother to stumble) and explains sinning against a weaker believer and wounding his conscience.
- Romans 14:15 (thematic): Both passages condemn causing a brother to ‘perish’ or be harmed by one’s liberty; Paul appeals to love over knowledge to avoid damaging a weaker believer.
- Matthew 18:6 (allusion): Jesus’ warning about causing ‘little ones’ to sin (it would be better to be drowned) echoes the seriousness of causing a brother’s spiritual ruin.
- 1Cor.13:2 (thematic): Contrast of knowledge and love: possessing knowledge (or liberty) is insufficient and can be harmful unless guided by love for the weaker brother — a controlling theme in 1 Cor 8.
- Romans 5:8 (thematic): Paul’s reminder that Christ died for the brother aligns with the theological basis for protecting the weaker believer: Christ’s sacrificial death establishes the value of every Christian.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus, through your knowledge, a weak brother is led to perish, for whom Christ died.
- Thus through your knowledge the weak brother for whom Christ died is destroyed.
1Cor.8.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτως: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- αμαρτανοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αδελφους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τυπτοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- συνειδησιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ασθενουσαν: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- Χριστον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αμαρτανετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- 1 Cor 8:10–13 (verbal): Immediate context: Paul makes the same point that knowledge can ‘destroy’ a weak brother’s conscience and that by so doing one sins against the brothers and against Christ (same language and argument).
- Romans 14:15 (thematic): Paul’s parallel injunction — if your action causes a brother to be harmed or ‘grieved,’ you are no longer acting in love and risk destroying the one for whom Christ died (same concern for harming fellow Christians’ conscience).
- 1 Cor 10:27–29, 32–33 (structural): Paul’s broader principle about Christian liberty and food: refrain from exercising rights if they cause offense or make a weaker conscience stumble; aimed at preserving others rather than asserting freedom.
- Mark 9:42 (allusion): Jesus’ warning that causing a believer (especially a ‘little one’) to sin brings severe judgment — an earlier tradition Paul echoes about the gravity of causing others to stumble.
- Matthew 18:6 (quotation): Parallel saying of Jesus about the seriousness of causing a believer to sin; provides the ethical backdrop for Paul’s claim that wounding a brother’s conscience is sinful (against Christ).
Alternative generated candidates
- And so, by sinning against your brothers and wounding their consciences, you sin against Christ.
- And so, sinning against brothers and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1Cor.8.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διοπερ: CONJ
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- βρωμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- σκανδαλιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- φαγω: VERB,aor,act,sub,1,sg
- κρεα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αιωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- σκανδαλισω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
Parallels
- Romans 14:21 (verbal): Nearly identical wording and instruction: 'It is good not to eat meat…' if it causes a brother to stumble—same prohibition for the sake of a weaker conscience.
- Romans 14:15 (thematic): Addresses causing a fellow believer sorrow by what one eats and links such behavior to a failure to 'walk in love'—same pastoral concern for others' consciences.
- Matthew 18:6 (thematic): Strong warning against causing 'little ones' to sin or stumble; parallels the ethical principle of avoiding actions that lead others into sin.
- 1 Corinthians 10:27-29 (verbal): Paul teaches refraining from eating food if a fellow believer objects for conscience' sake—practical application of avoiding scandal over food offered to idols.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (structural): Paul describes willingly giving up his rights and freedoms to win others—same underlying motive as foregoing meat to avoid harming a brother.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, so that I may not cause my brother to stumble.
- Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never again eat meat, that I might not make my brother stumble.
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
Therefore concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence in the world, and that there is no God but one.
For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—indeed there are many gods and many lords—
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Yet not all possess this knowledge. For some, accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Food does not bring us nearer to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not become a stumbling-block to the weak.
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of the weaker person be encouraged to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?
Thus, by your knowledge the weak brother is ruined, for whom Christ died.
So, by sinning against your brothers and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never again eat meat, that I might not cause my brother to stumble.