Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols
1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3But whoever loves God is known by God.8:2,3 An early manuscript and another ancient witness think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves truly knows.
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. 12When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
祭偶像的食物
1關於祭過偶像的食物，我們知道大家都有這方面的知識，但知識會使人自高，唯有愛心才能造就人。 2若有人自以為知道些什麼，其實他仍未達到真正知道的地步。 3但如果有人愛上帝，這人是上帝所認識的。
4關於吃祭過偶像的食物，我們知道世上的偶像算不得什麼，只有一位上帝，此外別無他神。 5雖然天上地上有許多被稱為神明的，好像有許多神明、許多主， 6但我們只有一位上帝，就是天父，祂是萬物的源頭，是我們的歸宿。我們也只有一位主，就是耶穌基督，萬物都是藉著祂而存在，我們也是藉著祂而存在。
7不過，並不是所有的人都有這種知識。有些人因為以前拜慣了偶像，現在吃到某些食物就覺得是祭過偶像的，良心因為不安而被玷污了。 8其實食物並不能使我們討上帝喜悅，我們不吃也沒有損失，吃了也不會更好。
9但你們要小心，不要讓你們的自由絆倒那些軟弱的人。 10如果有人看見你這明白以上道理的人竟然坐在偶像的廟中吃喝，他雖然良心不安，豈不還是會放膽吃祭過偶像的食物嗎？ 11這樣，你的知識反而令那軟弱的，就是基督捨命救回的弟兄姊妹受損。 12你們這樣得罪弟兄姊妹，傷了他們脆弱的良心，就是得罪基督。 13所以，如果我吃某些食物會讓我的弟兄在信仰上跌倒，我就情願永遠不吃8·13 「不吃」希臘文是「不吃肉」。，免得令他們跌倒。
