| 1 | Now about things offered to images: we all seem to ourselves to have knowledge. Knowledge gives pride, but love gives true strength. |
| 2 | If anyone seems to himself to have knowledge, so far he has not the right sort of knowledge about anything; |
| 3 | But if anyone has love for God, God has knowledge of him. |
| 4 | So, then, as to the question of taking food offered to images, we are certain that an image is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one. |
| 5 | For though there are those who have the name of gods, in heaven or on earth, as there are a number of gods and a number of lords, |
| 6 | There is for us only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we are for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we have our being through him. |
| 7 | Still, all men have not that knowledge: but some, being used till now to the image, are conscious that they are taking food which has been offered to the image; and because they are not strong in the faith, their minds are troubled. |
| 8 | But God's approval of us is not based on the food we take: if we do not take it we are no worse for it; and if we take it we are no better. |
| 9 | But take care that this power of yours does not give cause for trouble to the feeble. |
| 10 | For if a man sees you, who have knowledge, taking food as a guest in the house of an image, will it not give him, if he is feeble, the idea that he may take food offered to images? |
| 11 | And so, through your knowledge, you are the cause of destruction to your brother, for whom Christ underwent death. |
| 12 | And in this way, doing evil to the brothers, and causing trouble to those whose faith is feeble, you are sinning against Christ. |
| 13 | For this reason, if food is a cause of trouble to my brother, I will give up taking meat for ever, so that I may not be a cause of trouble to my brother. |
