¶The .viij. Chapter.
1 He rebuketh them that vse their libertie to the sclaunder of other, in going to the idolatrous sacrifices. 9 And sheweth how men ought to behaue them toward such as be weake.
[unspec A] 1 AS touching thinges * 1.1 offred vnto idols, we are sure yt we all haue knowledge. Know∣ledge maketh a man swell: but loue edifieth.
2 If any man thynke that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man loue God, the same is () 1.2 knowen of him.
4 As concerning the eating of those thinges that are offered vnto idols, we are sure that * 1.3 an idoll is nothing in the worlde, and that there is none other God but one.
5 And though there be that are called gods, whether in heauen or in earth, (as there be gods many, and (a) 1.4 lordes many:)
6 Yet vnto vs is there but one God, [which is] the father, of whom are all thinges, and we in him, and one Lorde Iesus Christe, by whom are al thinges, and we by him.
7 But euery man hath not knowledge: * 1.5 For some hauing conscience of the idol vntill this houre, eate as a thing offred vnto idols, and so their conscience being weake, is defiled.
8 But meate maketh vs not acceptable [unspec B] to God: For neither if we eate, haue we the more, neither if we eate not, haue we the lesse.
9 But take heede lest by any meanes this libertie of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake.
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at meate in the idols temple: shal not the conscience of him which is weake, be (b) 1.6 boldened to eate those thinges which are offred to idols,
11 And through thy knowledge shal the (c) 1.7 weake brother perishe, for whom Christe dyed?
12 When ye sinne so against the brethren, and wounde their weake conscience, ye sinne against Christe.
13 Wherefore, * 1.8 if meate offend my bro∣ther, I wyll eate no fleshe whyle the worlde standeth, lest I shoulde offende my brother.