The Message Bible MSG
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 The question keeps coming up regarding meat that has been offered up to an idol: Should you attend meals where such meat is served, or not? We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions -
1
de his autem quae idolis sacrificantur scimus quia omnes scientiam habemus scientia inflat caritas vero aedificat
2 but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds.
2
si quis se existimat scire aliquid nondum cognovit quemadmodum oporteat eum scire
3 We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all.
3
si quis autem diligit Deum hic cognitus est ab eo
4 Some people say, quite rightly, that idols have no actual existence, that there's nothing to them, that there is no God other than our one God,
4
de escis autem quae idolis immolantur scimus quia nihil est idolum in mundo et quod nullus Deus nisi unus
5 that no matter how many of these so-called gods are named and worshiped they still don't add up to anything but a tall story.
5
nam et si sunt qui dicantur dii sive in caelo sive in terra siquidem sunt dii multi et domini multi
6 They say - again, quite rightly - that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from him, and that he wants us to live for him. Also, they say that there is only one Master - Jesus the Messiah - and that everything is for his sake, including us. Yes. It's true.
6
nobis tamen unus Deus Pater ex quo omnia et nos in illum et unus Dominus Iesus Christus per quem omnia et nos per ipsum
7 In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the meat when it was offered up to an idol. It's just like any other meat. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive. We need to be sensitive to the fact that we're not all at the same level of understanding in this. Some of you have spent your entire lives eating "idol meat," and are sure that there's something bad in the meat that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience shaped under those conditions isn't going to change overnight.
7
sed non in omnibus est scientia quidam autem conscientia usque nunc idoli quasi idolothytum manducant et conscientia ipsorum cum sit infirma polluitur
8 But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it.
8
esca autem nos non commendat Deo neque si non manducaverimus deficiemus neque si manducaverimus abundabimus
9 But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a Christian still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.
9
videte autem ne forte haec licentia vestra offendiculum fiat infirmibus
10 For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused - maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.
10
si enim quis viderit eum qui habet scientiam in idolio recumbentem nonne conscientia eius cum sit infirma aedificabitur ad manducandum idolothyta
11 Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn't you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him - because, as you say, it doesn't really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin!
11
et peribit infirmus in tua scientia frater propter quem Christus mortuus est
12 When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn't worth it at the cost of even one of these "weak ones."
12
sic autem peccantes in fratres et percutientes conscientiam eorum infirmam in Christo peccatis
13 So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there's any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.
13
quapropter si esca scandalizat fratrem meum non manducabo carnem in aeternum ne fratrem meum scandalizem
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.