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¹ Now as to things offered to idols, 'tis certain that the knowledge you all pretend to have, swells you with pride, but 'tis charity that edifieth. ² and if any man be conceited of his own knowledge, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it. ³ but if a man love God, the same is taught by him.

⁴ As to the eating therefore of what is offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that the heathen deities have no real existence, and that there is but one God. ⁵ for tho' there are several titular deities, both in heaven and on earth: such as the whole crowd of gods, and lords among the Gentiles; ⁶ yet to us there is but one God, the father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

⁷ But every one has not this knowledge: for some still imagine the idol represents a deity: and eat the meat under the notion of an offering to such a being: by which erroneous opinion they are infected with idolatry. ⁸ meat does not recommend us to God: if we eat, we are not the better men; if we don't eat, we are not the worse. ⁹ but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak. ¹⁰ for if any man see you who have a just notion of idols, sitting at table in their temple, will not the person who is wrong in his notions be incouraged to eat what is offered to idols, tho' contrary to his own opinion? ¹¹ so that your notions may endanger the life of thy weak brother, for whom Christ died. ¹² but when you thus offend against the brethren, by wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ wherefore if my eating makes my brother offend, I will never eat flesh rather than make my brother offend.