In this passage, the apostle indirectly prohibits the eating of things sacrificed to idols (1Cor. 8:4,7,9-13), but elsewhere, it is directly prohibited (1Cor. 10:18-29; Acts. 15:28-29; Rev. 2:14,20).

Although for someone, whose heart is filled with profound knowledge of the supremacy of God the Father and Jesus the Lord, thereby having no regard for idols or fear of the demons behind them, eating meat sacrificed to idols is as eating that not sacrificed to them (1Cor. 8:4-6,9-10).

But this is not the case with some of them that did not have as much knowledge/awareness, that would be condemned and defiled in their weak consciences if they ate those things, or see others eat them (1Cor. 8:7,10-11).

The lessons from the above are as follows:-

(i) Whatever boldness, faith, zeal, anointing, knowledge, prowess, etc that anyone possesses in the church must be used in such a way that they do not destroy or become a stumbling block to the babes or the weak (1Cor. 8:9-13 cp. Mal. 2:7-8; Rom. 14:13);

(ii) Unguarded use of some legitimate thing one has can cause the failure or backsliding and loss of the weak person (1Cor. 8:11);

(iii) Such use is sin against the Lord and also against the weak person (1Cor. 8:12).