Be Sensitive to Conscience

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

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. For even if there are (G)so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 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.

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. 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.

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.

A Pattern of Self-Denial

Am (V)I not an apostle? Am I not free? (W)Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? (X)Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are (Y)the [d]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

My defense to those who examine me is this: (Z)Do we have no [e]right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along [f]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, (AA)the brothers of the Lord, and (AB)Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I (AC)who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever (AD)goes to war at his own expense? Who (AE)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who (AF)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, (AG)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that (AH)he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 (AI)If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

(AJ)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things (AK)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 (AL)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the (AM)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so (AN)the Lord has commanded (AO)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But (AP)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for (AQ)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for (AR)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, (AS)I have a reward; but if against my will, (AT)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That (AU)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [g]of Christ without charge, that I (AV)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

19 For though I am (AW)free from all men, (AX)I have made myself a servant to all, (AY)that I might win the more; 20 and (AZ)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [h]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 (BA)to (BB)those who are without law, as without law (BC)(not being without [i]law toward God, but under [j]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 (BD)to the weak I became [k]as weak, that I might win the weak. (BE)I have become all things to all men, (BF)that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? (BG)Run in such a way that you may [l]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [m]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for (BH)an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: (BI)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 (BJ)But I discipline my body and (BK)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become (BL)disqualified.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 8:1 makes arrogant
  2. 1 Corinthians 8:1 builds up
  3. 1 Corinthians 8:9 cause of offense
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:2 certification
  5. 1 Corinthians 9:4 authority
  6. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit. a sister, a wife
  7. 1 Corinthians 9:18 NU omits of Christ
  8. 1 Corinthians 9:20 NU adds though not being myself under the law
  9. 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU God’s law
  10. 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU Christ’s law
  11. 1 Corinthians 9:22 NU omits as
  12. 1 Corinthians 9:24 win
  13. 1 Corinthians 9:25 exercises self-control

Bible Gateway Recommends