For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),
Parallel translations
- WEB For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many “lords”;
- KJV For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
- NKJV For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
- NASB For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
- NLT There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords.
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
Even though people speak of many so-called "gods" and "lords" in heaven and on earth, these are not gods in reality. Paganism's deities exist only as human inventions or demonic counterfeits.
Overview
Paul acknowledges the crowded religious landscape of the Greco-Roman world, full of supposed gods and lords. He grants that such beings are "called" gods but denies them true deity. Elsewhere he links idolatry to demonic reality (1 Cor 10:20), so these names are not empty in danger, yet they are nothing compared to the one true God. This sets up the great confession of the next verse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Jer 2:28But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
- 2 Th 2:4He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
- Gal 4:8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
- Jer 11:13Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities, O Judah; the altars of shame you have set up—the altars to burn incense to Baal—are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
- Deut 10:17For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
- Jer 2:11Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
- Dan 5:4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
- John 10:34–35Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
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.
How 1 Corinthians 8:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.