No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
- NASB No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons.
- NLT No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pagan sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God, so participating in them is fellowship with demons. Idolatry has a real spiritual danger behind the empty idol.
Overview
Echoing Deuteronomy 32:17, Paul teaches that behind idol worship stand demonic powers. Though the idol is nothing, the sacrifice connects worshipers to genuine evil. Paul's deep concern is that the Corinthians not enter into fellowship with demons, which is utterly incompatible with their union with Christ established at his table.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Rev 9:20Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
- Ps 106:37–39They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
- Deut 32:16–17They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations.
- 2 Cor 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- Lev 17:7They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demons to which they have prostituted themselves. This will be a permanent statute for them for the generations to come.’
- 2 Chr 11:15And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.
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Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
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Original language
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