⁷ However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

¹³ Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat,^(A) so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.

⁷ Don’t become idolaters^(A) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.^{[a](B)[b] 8} Let us not commit sexual immorality^(C) as some of them did,^[c] and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.^(D)

Warning against Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup^(A) of blessing^(B) that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread^(C) that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we who are many are one^(D) body, for all of us share that one bread. ¹⁸ Look at the people of Israel.^[a] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?^{(E) 19} What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, but I do say that what they^[b] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. ²² Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?^(F)

Christian Liberty

²³ “Everything is permissible,”^[c][d] but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,”^[e] but not everything builds up. ²⁴ No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.^(G)

²⁵ Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, ²⁶ for the earth is the Lord’s,^(H) and all that is in it.^{(I)[f] 27} If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. ²⁸ But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it,^(J) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.^[g]

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block^[a] in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.^[b]