1 Corinthians 8:3-11
New American Standard Bible
4Therefore, concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
6yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7However, not all people have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8Now food will not bring us close to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
9But take care that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
11For through your knowledge the one who is weak is ruined, the brother or sister for whose sake Christ died.
King James Version
Chapter 8
3But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
Christian Standard Bible
4About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that "an idol is nothing in the world," and that "there is no God but one."
5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many "gods" and many "lords"—
6yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
7However, not everyone has this knowledge. Some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8Food will not bring us close to God. We are not worse off if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat.
9But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak.
10For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols?
11So the weak person, the brother or sister for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge.
New Living Translation
4So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.
5There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords.
7However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.
8It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.
9But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
10For if others see you — with your 'superior knowledge' — eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?
11So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.
English Standard Version
4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."
5For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" —
6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
9But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol 's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
11And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
New International Version
Chapter 8
3But whoever loves God is known by God.
4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that "An idol is nothing at all in the world" and that "There is no God but one."
5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"),
6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?
11So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
New King James Version
4Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
6yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
11And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
