1 Corinthians 8
GOD’S WORD Translation
Advice about Food Offered to False Gods
8 Now, concerning food offered to false gods: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up. 2 Those who think they know something still have a lot to learn. 3 But if they love God, they are known by God.
4 Now about eating food that was offered to false gods: We know that the false gods in this world don’t really exist and that no god exists except the one God. 5 People may say that there are gods in heaven and on earth—many gods and many lords, as they would call them. 6 But for us,
“There is only one God, the Father.
Everything came from him, and we live for him.
There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ.
Everything came into being through him,
and we live because of him.”
7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are so used to worshiping false gods that they believe they are eating food offered to a false god. So they feel guilty because their conscience is weak.
8 Food will not affect our relationship with God. We are no worse off if we eat ⌞that food⌟ and no better off if we don’t. 9 But be careful that by using your freedom you don’t somehow make a believer who is weak in faith fall into sin. 10 For example, suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you, who have this knowledge, eating in the temple of a false god. Won’t you be encouraging that person to eat food offered to a false god? 11 In that case, your knowledge is ruining a believer whose faith is weak, a believer for whom Christ died. 12 When you sin against other believers in this way and harm their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ.
13 Therefore, if eating food ⌞offered to false gods⌟ causes other believers to lose their faith, I will never eat that kind of food so that I won’t make other believers lose their faith.
1 Corinthians 8
The Voice
8 As to the concern of eating food dedicated to idols: we know that all of us have knowledge, but knowledge can be risky. Knowledge promotes overconfidence and worse arrogance, but charity of the heart (love, that is) looks to build up others. 2 Just because a person presumes to have some bit of knowledge, that person doesn’t necessarily have the right kind of knowledge. 3 But if someone loves God, it is certain that God has already known that one.
4 So to address your concerns about eating food offered to idols, let me start with what we know. An idol is essentially nothing, as there is no other God but the One. 5 And even if the majority believes there are many so-called gods in heaven and on earth (certainly many worship such “gods” and “lords”), this is not our view. 6 For us, there is one God, the Father who is the ultimate source of all things and the goal of our lives. And there is one Lord—Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King; through Him all things were created, and by Him we are redeemed.
7 But this knowledge is not in everyone. Up until now, some have been so familiar with idols and what goes on in the temples that when they eat meat that has been offered first to some idol, their weak consciences are polluted. This is the issue. 8 Again, here’s what we know: what we eat will not bring us closer to God—we gain nothing in feasting and lose nothing by fasting. 9 Now let me warn you: don’t let your newfound liberty cause those who don’t know this to fall face-first. 10 Let’s say a person (someone who knows of Jesus) sees you eating in the temple of an idol; and because the person with a weaker conscience is still unsure of things, he becomes confident, follows your lead, and eats idol food. 11 Now, because of your knowledge on display in your conduct, the weaker brother or sister—for whom the Anointed One died—is destroyed! Ruined! 12 What’s more, by living according to your knowledge, you have sinned against these brothers and sisters and wounded their weak consciences—and because you sinned against them, you have sinned against the Anointed One, the Liberating King.
13 So if any type of food is an issue that causes my brothers and sisters to fall away from God, then God forbid I should ever eat it again so that I would never be the crack, the rise, or the rock on the road that causes them to stumble.
1 Corinthians 8
New American Standard Bible
Take Care with Your Liberty
8 Now concerning (A)food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have (B)knowledge. Knowledge [a](C)makes one conceited, but love (D)edifies people. 2 (E)If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet (F)known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he (G)is known by Him.
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of (H)food sacrificed to idols, we know that an (I)idol is [b]nothing at all in the world, and that (J)there is no God but one. 5 For even if (K)there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us (L)there is only one God, (M)the Father, (N)from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and (O)one Lord, Jesus Christ, (P)by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However, not all people (Q)have this knowledge; but (R)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. 8 Now (S)food will not bring us [c]close to God; we are neither [d]the worse if we do not eat, nor [e]the better if we do eat. 9 But (T)take care that this [f]freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the (U)weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has (V)knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat (W)things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through (X)your knowledge the one who is weak (Y)is ruined, the brother or sister for whose sake Christ died. 12 (Z)And so, by sinning against the brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin (AA)against Christ. 13 Therefore, (AB)if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 Lit puffs up
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 I.e., what it represents does not exist
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Or before God
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Lit lacking
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 Lit abounding
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 Lit right
1 Corintios 8
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Cuidado con la libertad
8 En cuanto a lo sacrificado a los ídolos(A), sabemos que todos tenemos conocimiento(B). El conocimiento envanece[a](C), pero el amor edifica(D). 2 Si alguien cree que sabe algo(E), no ha aprendido todavía como debe saber(F); 3 pero si alguien ama a Dios, ese es conocido por Él(G).
4 Por tanto, en cuanto a comer de lo sacrificado a los ídolos(H), sabemos que un ídolo no es nada[b](I) en el mundo, y que no hay sino un solo Dios(J). 5 Porque aunque haya algunos llamados dioses(K), ya sea en el cielo o en la tierra, como por cierto hay muchos dioses y muchos señores, 6 pero para nosotros hay un solo Dios(L), el Padre(M), de quien proceden[c] todas las cosas(N) y nosotros somos para Él; y un solo Señor, Jesucristo(O), por quien son todas las cosas(P) y por medio de Él existimos nosotros.
7 Sin embargo, no todos tienen este conocimiento(Q). Porque algunos, estando acostumbrados al ídolo hasta ahora, comen alimento como si este fuera sacrificado a un ídolo, y su conciencia, siendo débil, se mancha(R). 8 Pero la comida no nos recomendará a[d] Dios, pues ni somos menos[e] si no comemos, ni somos más[f] si comemos(S). 9 Pero tengan cuidado, no sea que esta libertad[g] de ustedes de alguna manera se convierta en piedra de tropiezo(T) para el débil(U). 10 Porque si alguien te ve a ti, que tienes conocimiento(V), sentado[h] a la mesa en un templo de ídolos, ¿no será estimulada su conciencia, si él es débil, a comer lo sacrificado a los ídolos(W)?
11 Por tu conocimiento(X) se perderá el que es débil, el hermano por quien Cristo murió(Y). 12 Y así, al pecar contra los hermanos y herir su conciencia(Z) cuando esta es débil, pecan contra Cristo(AA). 13 Por tanto, si la comida hace que mi hermano caiga en pecado, no comeré carne jamás, para no hacer pecar a mi hermano(AB).
Footnotes
- 1 Corintios 8:1 Lit. hincha o infla.
- 1 Corintios 8:4 I.e. no tiene verdadera existencia.
- 1 Corintios 8:6 O son.
- 1 Corintios 8:8 O no nos presentará a.
- 1 Corintios 8:8 Lit. faltamos.
- 1 Corintios 8:8 Lit. abundamos.
- 1 Corintios 8:9 Lit. este derecho.
- 1 Corintios 8:10 Lit. recostado.
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