1Now concerning the idol-offered, we know that all possess knowledge. The knowledge inflates, but the love builds up.2If anyone supposes that he has come to know something, he does not yet know as one ought to know.3But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him.4Therefore, concerning the eating of the idol-offered, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God except one.5For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many gods and many lords,6yet 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 exist through him.7However, not all possess the knowledge, but some, because of their custom with the idol until now, eat as idol-offered, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.8Food will not commend us to God; for neither if we eat do we abound, nor if we do not eat do we lack.9But take care lest somehow this authority of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge reclining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be built up to eat the idol-offered?11For the brother who is weak is destroyed by your knowledge, the brother for whom Christ died.12Thus, sinning against the brothers and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to stumble.