1 | And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up; |
2 | and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth [him] to know; |
3 | and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him. |
4 | Concerning the eating then of the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one; |
5 | for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth -- as there are gods many and lords many -- |
6 | yet to us [is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom [are] the all things, and we through Him; |
7 | but not in all men [is] the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat [it], and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. |
8 | But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind; |
9 | but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm, |
10 | for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol`s temple reclining at meat -- shall not his conscience -- he being infirm -- be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols, |
11 | and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died? |
12 | and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience -- in regard to Christ ye sin; |
13 | wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh -- to the age -- that my brother I may not cause to stumble. |