1 Now, regarding things sacrificed for idols,a we know “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up,b but love builds up. 2 If someone thinks they have come to know something, they don’t yet know as much as it is necessary to know. 3 However, if someone loves God, they have come to be known by God. 4 Regarding eating things sacrificed for idols, therefore, we know “an idol in this world doesn’t matter”c and “there is no God but one.”d 5 You see, even if there are things called gods, whether in the heavens or in the land (since there are many gods and many lords), 6 still for us there is one God, the Father from whom everything comes, and we existe for him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ through whom everything comes, and we existf through him.
7 However, that knowledge is not sharedg among everyone. Some people, having been intimately familiarh with the idol until now, eat it as something sacrificed for an idol, and being vulnerable,i their consciencej is contaminated. 8 But food won’t bring us close to God; neither are we left behind if we don’t eat it, nor do we get ahead if we do eat it. 9 Watch out that this freedom of yours doesn’t become an obstacle to the vulnerable. 10 You see, if someone sees you who have this understanding diningk in an idol’s temple, being vulnerable, won’t their conscience be built upl for eating things sacrificed for idols? 11 The Family memberm who is vulnerable, for whom Christ died, will be destroyed by your knowledge. 12 In this way deviatingn against your Family members and wounding their vulnerable conscience, you deviate against Christ. 13 For that reason, if food trips up my Family member, I will never eat meat at all, so I won’t trip up my Family member.
FOOTNOTES:
a While it is not specified, based on context, this is generally understood to refer specifically to the meat of animals sacrificed to idols and then sold at markets afterward.
b Or ‘inflates’ or ‘produces overconfidence,’ literally ‘puffs up’ as in the cheeks when someone blows out air.
c Literally, ‘is nothing’
d Or “a god is nothing except one” or “No God matters except one.”
e Or ‘we are’
f Or ‘we are’
g Literally, the word ‘shared’ is not in the Greek and is added for clarity.
h Referring to someone who previously participated in religious ceremonies in honor of idols, submitting to and attempting to placate or gain favor with them.
i Or ‘sick’ or ‘feeble’ or ‘without resources’ or ‘disempowered’ or ‘weak.’
j This word generally means ‘conscience’ or ‘awareness’ referring to keeping one’s attention on a particular way or being or set of values.
k Literally, ‘reclining’ which was the traditional posture for sitting at meals, resting on cushions on the ground.
l Compare this with the statement that ‘love builds up’ in 1 Corinthians 8:1. It is the same Greek word.
m The word adelphos, literally means ‘brother’ or ‘sibling.’ It was also frequently used to refer to ‘cousin’ or ‘relative,’ and even for members of the same ideological or ethnic group. With Jesus’ insistence on a radically inclusive understanding of God’s instruction, it is always pushing further than what already seems to be the most wide-sweeping view people hold. In the New Testament letters, it comes to be used of anyone who has joined the Christ community, regardless of gender.
n The word in Greek here is hamartano, traditionally translated ‘sin.’ The actual meaning is an archery term for missing the target; it’s a metaphor. It evokes an image of veering off course, ending up in at an unintended location. It is used regarding many situations, including harmful behavior, disregarding responsibilities as a people or individual called to a specific purpose, and even having chronic illness or debilitating injuries or cultural identities that prohibit one from full participation in temple worship according to the Torah. The word did not always imply wrongdoing but simply any behavior or condition not aligned with fulfilling Torah responsibilities. In this case, the responsibility seems to be to love one’s neighbor and be willing to let go of one’s supposed rights in order to support others.