Study Desk

What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

No, but I do say that what they^[i] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons!

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.

Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?^(ae)

"Everything is permissible,"^[j][k] but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible,"^[l] but not everything builds up.

No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.^(af)

Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake,

for the earth is the Lord's, ^(ag) and all that is in it. ^(ah)[m]

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.

But if someone says to you, "This is food offered to an idol," do not eat it,^(ai) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience' sake.^[n]

I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person's. For why is my freedom judged^(aj) by another person's conscience?

If I partake with thanks,^(ak) why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory.^(al)

Give no offense^(am) to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God,

just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,^(an) so that they may be saved.