1 ^oNow concerning^{1 p}food 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.