Epistula I ad Corinthios, 8
1. De idolothytis autem, scimus quia omnes scientiam habemus. Scientia inflat, caritas vero aedificat.
1. Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." "Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
2. Si quis se existimat scire aliquid, nondum cognovit, quemadmodum oporteat eum scire;
2. If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
3. si quis autem diligit Deum, hic cognitus est ab eo.
3. But if one loves God, one is known by him.
4. De esu igitur idolothytorum, scimus quia nullum idolum est in mundo, et quod nullus deus nisi Unus.
4. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."
5. Nam et si sunt, qui dicantur dii sive in caelo sive in terra, si quidem sunt dii multi et domini multi,
5. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth -- as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" --
6. nobis tamen unus Deus Pater, ex quo omnia et nos in illum, et unus Dominus Iesus Christus, per quem omnia et nos per ipsum.
6. yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7. Sed non in omnibus est scientia; quidam autem consuetudine usque nunc idoli quasi idolothytum manducant, et conscientia ipsorum, cum sit infirma, polluitur.
7. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8. Esca autem nos non commendat Deo; neque si non manducaverimus, deficiemus, neque si manducaverimus, abundabimus.
8. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
9. Videte autem, ne forte haec licentia vestra offendiculum fiat infirmis.
9. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10. Si enim quis viderit eum, qui habet scientiam, in idolio recumbentem, nonne conscientia eius, cum sit infirma, aedificabitur ad manducandum idolothyta?
10. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
11. Peribit enim infirmus in tua scientia, frater, propter quem Christus mortuus est!
11. And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
12. Sic autem peccantes in fratres et percutientes conscientiam eorum infirmam, in Christum peccatis.
12. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13. Quapropter si esca scandalizat fratrem meum, non manducabo carnem in aeternum, ne fratrem meum scandalizem.
13. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.
