1 Corinthians 10:20
What does 1 Corinthians 10:20 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 10:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 10:20 means
He states plainly: “the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.” Behind pagan worship stand malevolent spiritual beings opposed to the Lord. Paul’s pastoral concern is sharp: “I would not that ye should have communion with demons.” Fellowship is the issue. To sit at a pagan table is to share in a realm hostile to Christ. This does not mean that every piece of meat carries a demon; rather, the cultic setting creates communion. The Corinthians must see past social convenience to spiritual reality. Loyalty to Christ rules out participation in rites that involve demonic fellowship, however sophisticated or respectable those occasions may appear.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949What I say is that the things offered by the Gentiles are offered to evil spirits and not to God; and it is not my desire for you to have any part with evil spirits.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862<FI> no,<Fi> but that the things that the nations sacrifice--they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not wish you to come into the fellowship of the demons.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God. And I would not that you should be made partakers with devils.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But that what [the nations] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not toGod. Now I do not wish you to be in communion with demons.
Context
Having clarified the idol’s nothingness, Paul now reveals the true spiritual danger: demonic powers exploit idolatry. This grounds the incompatibility he will assert in verse 21: communion with the Lord and with demons cannot mix. The argument thus moves from meaning (communion), to precedent (Israel), to spiritual diagnosis (demons), and finally to the practical impossibility of divided participation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 32:16
They moved him to jealousy with strange gods; With abominations provoked they him to anger.
- Revelation 9:20
And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:
- 2 Chronicles 11:15
and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made.
- Psalms 106:37
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
- Leviticus 17:7
And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the he-goats, after which they play the harlot. This shall be a statute forever unto them throughout their generations.
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