NET Bible | International Standard Version |
1With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that "we all have knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. | 1Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. |
2If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know. | 2If anyone thinks he really knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it. |
3But if someone loves God, he is known by God. | 3But anyone who loves God is known by him. |
4With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that "an idol in this world is nothing," and that "there is no God but one." | 4Now concerning eating food offered to idols: We know that no idol is real in this world and that there is only one God. |
5If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), | 5For even if there are "gods" in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called "gods" and "lords"), |
6yet 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. | 6yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything came into being and for whom we live. And there is only one Lord, Jesus the Messiah, through whom everything came into being and through whom we live. |
7But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled. | 7But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idolatry that when they eat food that has been offered to an idol, their conscience becomes contaminated because it is weak. |
8Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do. | 8However, food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat food that has been offered to an idol, and no better off if we do. |
9But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak. | 9But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block for those who are weak. |
10For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience be "strengthened" to eat food offered to idols? | 10For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, who know better, eating in an idol's temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, won't he? |
11So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed. | 11In that case, the weak brother for whom the Messiah died is ruined by your knowledge. |
12If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. | 12When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against the Messiah. |
13For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin. | 13Therefore, if food that I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, in order to keep my brother from stumbling. |
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