Food Sacrificed to Idols

(Ezekiel 14:1–11, Romans 14:13–23)

8 Now about [food] sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the one who loves God is known by [God].

4 So 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. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many [ so-called ] gods and lords), 6 yet for us [ there is but ] one God, the Father, from whom all things [came] and for [whom] we [exist]. And [ there is but ] one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things [came] and through [whom] we [exist].

7 But not everyone [has] this knowledge. Some [people] are still so accustomed to idols [that] they eat [such food] as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And [since] their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, [and] no [better] if we do.

9 Be careful, however, [that] your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone [with] a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, {will he} not be encouraged to eat [food] sacrificed to idols? 11 [So] [this] weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 By sinning against [your] brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13 Therefore, if [what I eat] causes my brother {to stumble}, I will never eat meat [again], so that I will not cause [him] {to stumble}.