8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." "Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
8:1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

8:2 If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
8:2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge;

8:3 But if one loves God, one is known by him.
8:3 but anyone who loves God is known by him.

8:4 Hence, 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."
8:4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one."

8:5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth -- as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" --
8:5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as in fact there are many gods and many lords--

8:6 yet 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.
8:6 yet 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.

8:7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8:7 It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8:8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
8:8 "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

8:9 Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
8:9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

8:10 For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
8:10 For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?

8:11 And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
8:11 So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed.

8:12 Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
8:12 But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

8:13 Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.
8:13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.