22 Will you “provoke him to jealousy with strange gods?” (Deut. xxxii. 16). What possible connection can there be between our spiritual feast and the table of devils?
23 Granted — all things are lawful to those who are free and emancipated. But it does not follow that there is no danger, no destructive power lurking round things which in an absolute sense are harmless.
24 Seek what serves the common good, seek what builds and edifies, seek not your own.
25 You are of course at liberty to purchase whatever you please where meat is sold, and ask no questions about it.
26-27 Similarly, you can dine with friends not of the faith, and eat whatever they set before you. That is our freedom. “Is not the earth the Lord's and the fulness thereof?” (Ps. xxiv. 1).
28 But if your host inform you, “this meat was sacrificed to such and such a god,” then keep the rule of absolute abstention from idolatry.
29 You may consider yourself free, and think that you partake of all things by the grace of God,