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About Food Offered to Idols

8 1Now [I will write] about meat that is sacrificed* to idols.* We know that "we all have knowledge." "Knowledge" puffs you up full of pride. But love makes [you help] others grow stronger. 2The person who thinks he knows something does not yet know anything like he should. 3But the person who loves God is known by God. 4So [this is what I say] about eating meat: We know that an idol* is really nothing in the world. And we know that there is only one God. 5It's really not important if there are things called gods, in heaven or on earth. (And there are many [things that people call] "gods" and "lords.") 6But for us there is only one God. He is our Father. All things came from him and we live for him. And there is only one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. All things were made through Jesus, and we also have life through him. 7But not all people know this. Some people have had the habit of worshiping idols* until now. So now when those people eat meat, they still feel like it belongs to an idol. They are not sure that it is right to eat this meat. So when they eat it, they feel guilty. 8But food will not make us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less [pleasing to God]. And eating does not make us better. 9But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom may make those people who are weak in faith fall into sin. 10You have understanding (knowledge), so you might [feel free to] eat in an idol's temple.* They who are weak in faith might see you eating there. This will encourage them to eat meat sacrificed* to idols too. But they really think it is wrong. 11So this weak brother [or sister] is ruined (destroyed) because of your knowledge. And Christ died for this brother [or sister]. 12When you sin against your brothers [and sisters in Christ] like this and you hurt them by causing them to do things they feel are wrong, then you are also sinning against Christ. 13So if the food I eat makes another believer fall into sin, then I will never eat meat again. I will stop eating meat, so that I will not make my brother [or sister] sin.

sacrificed Killed and offered as a gift to show worship. idol(s) False gods made from wood or stone and worshiped by the non-Jewish people. idol's temple Place for worship of a false god. sacrificed Killed and offered as a gift to show worship.

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