Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Now concerning things offered unto idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
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Now, concerning food offered to false gods: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
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Those who think they know something still have a lot to learn.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known by Him.
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But if they love God, they are known by God.
4 Concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but One.
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Now about eating food that was offered to false gods: We know that the false gods in this world don't really exist and that no god exists except the one God.
5 For though there be what are called "gods," whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many "gods" and many "lords"),
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People may say that there are gods in heaven and on earth--many gods and many lords, as they would call them.
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.
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But for us, "There is only one God, the Father. Everything came from him, and we live for him. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. Everything came into being through him, and we live because of him."
7 However, there is not in every man that knowledge; for some, with conscience of the idol until this hour, eat it as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
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But not everyone knows this. Some people are so used to worshiping false gods that they believe they are eating food offered to a false god. So they feel guilty because their conscience is weak.
8 But meat commendeth us not to God, for neither are we the better if we eat, nor are we the worse if we eat not.
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Food will not affect our relationship with God. We are no worse off if we eat [that food] and no better off if we don't.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
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But be careful that by using your freedom you don't somehow make a believer who is weak in faith fall into sin.
10 For if any man see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols,
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For example, suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you, who have this knowledge, eating in the temple of a false god. Won't you be encouraging that person to eat food offered to a false god?
11 and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
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In that case, your knowledge is ruining a believer whose faith is weak, a believer for whom Christ died.
12 For when ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
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When you sin against other believers in this way and harm their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ.
13 Therefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
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Therefore, if eating food [offered to false gods] causes other believers to lose their faith, I will never eat that kind of food so that I won't make other believers lose their faith.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.