| Chapter 8 |
1 |
Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. --
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2 |
But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know. --
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3 |
But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him. --
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4 |
Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one. --
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5 |
For though there are things that are called 'gods,' whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many 'gods' and many 'lords;' --
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6 |
yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we to him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him. --
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7 |
However, that knowledge isn't in all men. But some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. --
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8 |
But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. --
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9 |
But be careful that by any means this liberty of yours doesn't become a stumbling block to the weak. --
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10 |
For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? --
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11 |
And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. --
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12 |
Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. --
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13 |
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my brother to stumble. --
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