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1 Corinthians 8
New King James Version

### Be Sensitive to Conscience

8 Now (A)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have (B)knowledge. (C)Knowledge [a]puffs up, but love [b]edifies. 2 And (D)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that (E)an idol is nothing in the world, (F)and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are (G)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet (H)for us there is one God, the Father, (I)of whom are all things, and we for Him; and (J)one Lord Jesus Christ, (K)through whom are all things, and (L)through whom we live.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, (M)with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is (N)defiled. 8 But (O)food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

9 But (P)beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become (Q)a [c]stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not (R)the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And (S)because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But (T)when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (U)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

#### Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 8:1 makes arrogant
2. 1 Corinthians 8:1 builds up
3. 1 Corinthians 8:9 cause of offense

#### Cross references

1. 1 Corinthians 8:1 : Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 8:4, 7, 10
2. 1 Corinthians 8:1 : Rom. 14:14
3. 1 Corinthians 8:1 : Rom. 14:3
4. 1 Corinthians 8:2 : [1 Cor. 13:8–12]; Gal. 6:3; [1 Tim. 6:4]
5. 1 Corinthians 8:4 : Is. 41:24
6. 1 Corinthians 8:4 : Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:6
7. 1 Corinthians 8:5 : [John 10:34]
8. 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6
9. 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Acts 17:28
10. 1 Corinthians 8:6 : John 13:13; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 4:5; [1 Tim. 2:5]
11. 1 Corinthians 8:6 : John 1:3; [Col. 1:16, 17]; Heb. 1:2
12. 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Rom. 5:11; Rev. 4:11; 5:9, 10
13. 1 Corinthians 8:7 : [1 Cor. 10:28]
14. 1 Corinthians 8:7 : Rom. 14:14, 22
15. 1 Corinthians 8:8 : [Rom. 14:17]
16. 1 Corinthians 8:9 : Gal. 5:13
17. 1 Corinthians 8:9 : Rom. 14:13, 21; 1 Cor. 10:28
18. 1 Corinthians 8:10 : 1 Cor. 10:28
19. 1 Corinthians 8:11 : Rom. 14:15, 20
20. 1 Corinthians 8:12 : Matt. 25:40
21. 1 Corinthians 8:13 : Rom. 14:21; 1 Cor. 10:32; 2 Cor. 6:3; 11:29

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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