17. Because there is the one loaf of bread, all of us, though many, are one body, for we all share the same loaf.
18. Consider the people of Israel; those who eat what is offered in sacrifice share in the altar's service to God.
19. Do I imply, then, that an idol or the food offered to it really amounts to anything?
20. No! What I am saying is that what is sacrificed on pagan altars is offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be partners with demons.
21. You cannot drink from the Lord's cup and also from the cup of demons; you cannot eat at the Lord's table and also at the table of demons.
22. Or do we want to make the Lord jealous? Do we think that we are stronger than he?
23. “We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. “We are allowed to do anything” — but not everything is helpful.
24. None of you should be looking to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
25. You are free to eat anything sold in the meat market, without asking any questions because of your conscience.
26. For, as the scripture says, “The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.”
27. If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you decide to go, eat what is set before you, without asking any questions because of your conscience.
28. But if someone says to you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat that food, for the sake of the one who told you and for conscience' sake —
29. that is, not your own conscience, but the other person's conscience.“Well, then,” someone asks, “why should my freedom to act be limited by another person's conscience?
30. If I thank God for my food, why should anyone criticize me about food for which I give thanks?”
31. Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory.