But food does not bring us close to God. For neither if we eat do we have more, nor if we do not eat do we lack.[a] But watch out lest somehow this right of yours becomes a cause for stumbling to the weak. 10 For if someone should see you who has knowledge reclining for a meal in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, because it[b] is weak, be strengthened so that he eats the food sacrificed to idols?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 8:8 Some manuscripts omit “For” and have “Neither if we do not eat do we lack, nor if we do eat do we have more”
  2. 1 Corinthians 8:10 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is”) which is understood as causal

But food does not bring us near to God;(A) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block(B) to the weak.(C) 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?(D)

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