1 ARST I am now moving on to speak about meat that someone has offered to another god. All of us{ who believe} do know{ what is true about other gods. However,} knowing{ what is true often} makes people proud. It is loving others that really helps other believers. BSB BSB: Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2 ARST All people who reckon that they understand something do not yet understand it in the way that they should understand it. BSB BSB: The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
3 ARST However, God understands and cares for all people who love him. BSB BSB: But the one who loves God is known by God.
5 ARST It is true that there are many things that are in heaven or on earth that people call“gods.” In this way, many“gods” and“lords” exist. BSB BSB: For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),
7 ARST However, some people do not fully understand{ what I have said}. They used to worship other gods in the past, and they incompletely understand what is right and wrong. When they eat meat that someone has offered to another god, they feel guilty. BSB BSB: But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
8 ARST Now food does not connect us with God. Those who do not eat{ certain foods} do not miss out{ on anything from God}. Also, those who do eat{ certain foods} do not receive something extra{ from God}. BSB BSB: But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 ARST However, you need to be careful about how you live if you know{ that food is not significant}. How you live should not cause someone who incompletely understands what is right and wrong to struggle{ to follow Jesus}. BSB BSB: Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 ARST { You need to be careful} because fellow believers might observe a believer who knows{ what is true about other gods} sitting down to eat{ meat} in another god’ s temple. Those fellow believers, who incompletely understand what is right and wrong, will become confident that they also can eat meat that someone has offered to another god. BSB BSB: For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?
11 ARST As a result, by acting based on what you know{ is true about other gods}, you harm others who incompletely understand what is right and wrong. These are fellow believers, and the Messiah died for them. BSB BSB: So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
12 ARST When you act in these ways, you sin against fellow believers by leading them, who incompletely understand what is right and wrong, to do what they think is wrong.{ When do you this,} you sin against the Messiah too. BSB BSB: By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 ARST Consequently, in cases where what I eat would lead a fellow believer to sin, I will never ever eat meat again{, whether someone has offered it to another god or not}. This way, I do not lead any of my fellow believers to sin. BSB BSB: Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.