1 Corinthians 10:20 Meaning and Explanation
“But 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul explains that pagan sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God, and he does not want believers sharing in that.
What Does 1 Corinthians 10:20 Mean?
Now Paul gives his answer. The idol is nothing, yet the worship offered to it is not directed to God but to 'devils' -- the dark spiritual powers that stand behind false religion (echoing Deuteronomy 32:17). The danger is real, not because the statue lives, but because such worship draws the soul toward what opposes God.
Paul's concern is fellowship: he will not have believers entering into communion with these powers. The table of an idol is a place of allegiance, and a heart joined to Christ cannot also be joined there. The warning is protective, guarding God's people from an unseen snare. The Lord who delivered Israel from Egypt's gods still calls His people out of every entanglement with what is hostile to Him, into the safety of His own fellowship.
1 Corinthians 10:20 in the Original Language
daimonion (δαιμόνιον), 'devils' -- evil spirits or demons, the powers behind idol worship.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 10:20
What does 1 Corinthians 10:20 mean?
Paul explains that pagan sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God, and he does not want believers sharing in that.