Food Sacrificed to Idols
(Romans 14:13–23)

1But concerning things offered to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but divine love builds up. 2If any one seems to know anything, yet he knows not as it behooves him to know; 3but if any one loves God he is known of him.

4Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God except one. 5For if indeed there are those who are called gods, whether in heaven or upon the earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; 6but there is to us one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we in him.

7But there is not knowledge in all people: but some, with the conscience of the idol even until now, eat as if it was sacrificed to the idol; and their conscience being weak is polluted. 8But meat will not commend us to God; neither if we eat are we the better; nor if we eat not are we the worse. 9See lest this liberty of yours may become a stumblingblock to the weak. 10For if any one may see you having knowledge sitting at the table in the idol temple, will not the conscience of him, being weak, be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to the idols? 11For the weak one is destroyed by your knowledge, the brother for whom Christ died. 12And you, sinning so against the brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, are sinning against Christ. 13If indeed meat causes my brother to stumble, I never eat any more meat, in order that I may not lay a stumblingblock in the way of my brother.