1 Corinthians 8 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Corinthians 8 ▼
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1 Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom]. Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
2 If anyone imagines that he knows and understands anything [of divine matters, without love], he has not yet known as he ought to know. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved]. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. But whoever loves God is known by God.
4 In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world [it has no real existence], and that there is no God but one. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” So 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.”
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things [that have been created], and we [believers exist and have life and have been redeemed] through Him. yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. yet 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.
7 However, not all [believers] have this knowledge. But some, being accustomed [throughout their lives] to [thinking of] the idol until now [as real and living], still eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and because their conscience is weak, it is defiled (guilty, ashamed). However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But 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.
8 Now food will not commend us to God nor bring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience]. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if someone sees you, a person having knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, then if he is weak, will he not be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to idols [and violate his own convictions]? For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? For 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?
11 For through your knowledge (spiritual maturity) this weak man is ruined [that is, he suffers in his spiritual life], the brother for whom Christ died. And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
12 And when you sin against the brothers and sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience [by confusing them], you sin against Christ. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if [my eating a certain] food causes my brother to stumble (sin), I will not eat [such] meat ever again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. Therefore, 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.
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