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

1Now 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. 2and if any man be conceited of his own knowledge, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it. 3but if a man love God, the same is taught by him.

4As 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. 5for tho' there are several titular deities, both in heaven and on earth: such as the whole crowd of gods, and lords among the Gentiles; 6yet 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.

7But 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. 8meat 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. 9but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak. 10for 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? 11so that your notions may endanger the life of thy weak brother, for whom Christ died. 12but when you thus offend against the brethren, by wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13wherefore if my eating makes my brother offend, I will never eat flesh rather than make my brother offend.