Food Sacrificed to Idols (Ezekiel 14:1–11; Romans 14:13–23)
1 RV Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. BSB BSB: Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2 RV If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know; BSB BSB: The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
3 RV but if any man loveth God, the same is known of him. BSB BSB: But the one who loves God is known by God.
5 RV For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; 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),
6 RV yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him. BSB BSB: yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. 7 RV Howbeit in all men there is not that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 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 RV But meat will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. 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 RV But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. BSB BSB: Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 RV For if a man see thee which hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 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 RV For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. BSB BSB: So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
12 RV And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. BSB BSB: By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 RV Wherefore, if meat maketh my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I make not my brother to stumble. 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.