Food Offered to Idols
1 oNow concerning1 pfood offered to qidols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” rpuffs up, but love sbuilds up. 2 tIf anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is uknown by God.2
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that v“an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but wone.” 5 For although there may be xso-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, yfrom whom are all things and for whom we exist, and zone Lord, Jesus Christ, athrough whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 bHowever, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being cweak, is defiled. 8 dFood will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But etake care that this right of yours does not somehow become a fstumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating3 in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,4 if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 gAnd so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers5 and wounding their conscience when it is weak, hyou sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Paul Surrenders His Rights
1 Am I not free? Am I not an iapostle? jHave I not seen Jesus our Lord? kAre not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you lare the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my mdefense to those who would examine me. 4 nDo we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 oDo we not have the right to take along a pbelieving wife,6 as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and qCephas? 6 Or is it only rBarnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? sWho plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8 Do I say these things ton human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, u“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak vfor our sake? It was written for our sake, because wthe plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 xIf we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, ywe have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an zobstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that athose who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, bthe Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
15 But cI have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my dground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. eFor necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still fentrusted with a gstewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel hfree of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
28 bBut if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—
33 just as I try to fplease geveryone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
