Food Sacrificed to Statues of Gods
1Now I want to deal with food sacrificed to statues of gods. We know that “We all have knowledge.” But knowledge makes people proud, while love builds them up. 2Those who think they know something still don’t know as they should. 3But whoever loves God is known by God.
4So then, here is what I say about eating food sacrificed to statues of gods. We know that “a god made by human hands is really nothing at all in the world.” We know that “there is only one God.” 5There may be so-called gods either in heaven or on earth. In fact, there are many “gods” and many “lords.” 6But for us there is only one God. He is the Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. All things came because of him, and we live because of him.
7But not everyone knows this. Some people still think that statues of gods are real gods. They might eat food sacrificed to statues of gods. When they do, they think of it as food sacrificed to real gods. And because those people have a weak sense of what is right and wrong, they feel guilty. 8But food doesn’t bring us close to God. We are no worse if we don’t eat. We are no better if we do eat.
9But be careful how you use your rights. Be sure you don’t cause someone weaker than you to fall into sin. 10Suppose you, with all your knowledge, are eating in a temple of one of those gods. And suppose someone who has a weak sense of what is right and wrong sees you. Won’t that person become bold and eat what is sacrificed to statues of gods? 11If so, then your knowledge destroys that weak brother or sister for whom Christ died. 12Suppose you sin against them in this way. Then you harm their weak sense of what is right and wrong. By doing this, you sin against Christ. 13So suppose what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin. Then what should I do? I will never eat meat again. In that way, I will not cause them to fall.
Chakula Kilichotolewa Sadaka Kwa Sanamu
18:1 Mdo 15:20; Rum 15:14Sasa kuhusu chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, tunajua kwamba “sisi sote tuna ujuzi.” Lakini ujuzi hujivuna, bali upendo hujenga. 28:2 1Kor 3:8-12; 1Tim 6:4Mtu yeyote anayedhani kwamba anajua kitu, bado hajui kama impasavyo kujua. 38:3 Yer 1:5; Rum 8:29; Gal 4:9Lakini mtu ampendaye Mungu, hujulikana naye Mungu.
48:4 Kut 34:15; Mdo 14:15; 1Kor 10:19; Gal 4:8; Kum 6:4; Za 86:10; Efe 4:6; 1Tim 2:5Hivyo basi, kuhusu kula chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: Tunajua kwamba “Sanamu si kitu chochote kabisa duniani,” na kwamba “Kuna Mungu mmoja tu.” 58:5 2The 2:4; Za 82:6; Yn 10:34Kwa kuwa hata kama wapo hao wanaoitwa miungu, kama wakiwa mbinguni au duniani (kama ilivyo kweli wapo “miungu” wengi na “mabwana” wengi), 68:6 Mal 2:10; Rum 11:36; Efe 4:5; Yn 1:3kwetu sisi yuko Mungu mmoja, aliye Baba, ambaye vitu vyote vyatoka kwake na kwa ajili yake sisi twaishi; na kuna Bwana mmoja tu, Yesu Kristo, ambaye kwa yeye vitu vyote vimekuwepo na kwa yeye tunaishi.
78:7 Rum 14:14; 1Kor 10:28Lakini si wote wanaojua jambo hili. Baadhi ya watu bado wamezoea sanamu kuwa halisi hivi kwamba wanapokula chakula kama hicho wanadhani kimetolewa sadaka kwa sanamu na kwa kuwa dhamiri zao ni dhaifu, dhamiri yao inanajisika. 88:8 Rum 14:17Lakini chakula hakituleti karibu na Mungu, wala hatupotezi chochote tusipokula, wala hatuongezi chochote kama tukila.
98:9 2Kor 6:3; Gal 5:13; Rum 14:1Lakini angalieni jinsi mnavyotumia uhuru wenu usije ukawa kikwazo kwao walio dhaifu. 108:10 1Kor 8:1, 4, 7; 10:28, 32Kwa maana kama mtu yeyote mwenye dhamiri dhaifu akiwaona ninyi wenye ujuzi huu mkila katika hekalu la sanamu, je, si atatiwa moyo kula chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu? 118:11 Rum 14:15-20Kwa njia hiyo, huyo ndugu mwenye dhamiri dhaifu, ambaye Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake, ataangamia kwa sababu ya ujuzi wenu. 128:12 Mt 18:6; 25:40-45Mnapotenda dhambi dhidi ya ndugu zenu kwa njia hii na kujeruhi dhamiri zao zilizo dhaifu, mnamkosea Kristo. 138:13 Mt 5:29; Rum 14:21; 2Kor 11:29Kwa hiyo, kama kile ninachokula kitamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke katika dhambi, sitakula nyama kamwe, nisije nikamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke.
