For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many 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,)
- BSB For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),
- NKJV For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as 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 2:28“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
- 2 Th 2:4he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
- Gal 4:8However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
- Jer 11:13For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal.’
- Deut 10:17For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons, nor takes reward.
- Jer 2:11Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
- Dan 5:4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
- John 10:34–35Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’
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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.
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.