Food Sacrificed to Idols

(Ezekiel 14:1-11; Romans 14:13-23)

1And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up; 2and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth [him] to know; 3and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him.

4Concerning the eating then of the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one; 5for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth—as there are gods many and lords many— 6yet to us [is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom [are] the all things, and we through Him;

7but not in all men [is] the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat [it], and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind; 9but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm, 10for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol’s temple reclining at meat—shall not his conscience—he being infirm—be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols, 11and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died? 12and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience—in regard to Christ ye sin; 13wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh—to the age—that my brother I may not cause to stumble.