1 Corinthians 10:20

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.

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WEBBE

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.

BSB

No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants 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.

ASV

But [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

What 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.

Original Greek

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ἀλλ all᾽ Rather G235 ὅτι hoti that G3754 ἃ ha what G3739 θύουσιν thuousin they sacrifice G2380 τὰ ta the G3588 ἔθνη ethnē gentiles G1484 δαιμονίοις daimoniois to demons G1140 καὶ kai and G2532 οὐ ou not G3756 θεῷ theō to God G2316 θύουσιν thuousin they sacrifice G2380 οὐ ou Not G3756 θέλω thelō I do wish G2309 δὲ de now G1161 ὑμᾶς humas you G4771 κοινωνοὺς koinōnous fellow partakers G2844 τῶν tōn (the) G3588 δαιμονίων daimoniōn with demons G1140 γίνεσθαι ginesthai to be G1096

The early church

"For that which the Gentiles sacrifice," saith he, "they sacrifice to demons, and not to God." Do not then run to the contrary things. For neither if thou wert a king's son, and having the privilege of thy father's table, shouldest leave it and choose to partake of the table of the condemned and the prisoners in the dungeon, would thy father permit it, but with great vehemence he would withdraw thee; not as though the table could harm thee, but because it disgraces thy nobility and the royal table. For verily these too are servants who have offended; dishonored, condemned, prisoners reserved for intolerable punishment, accountable for ten thousand crimes. How then art thou not ashamed to imitate the gluttonous and vulgar crew, in that when these condemned persons set out a table, thou runnest thither and partakest of the viands? Here is the cause why I seek to withdraw thee. For the intention of the sacrificers, and the person of the receivers, maketh the things set before thee unclean. "And I would not that ye should have communion with demons." Perceivest thou the kindness of a careful father? Perceivest thou also the very word, what force it hath to express his feeling? "For it is my wish," saith he, "that you have nothing in common with them."
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 15–22

Did not the joining in the Lord's supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish worship and customs in sacrifice. The apostle applies this to feasting with idolaters. Eating food as part of a heathen sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it; just as he who eats the Lord's supper, is accounted to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar. It was denying Christianity; for communion with Christ, and communion with devils, could never be had at once. If Christians venture into places, and join in sacrifices to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, they will provoke God.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 10 →

Cross-references

6

Topics

Quotations And AllusionsIdolatryGentilesDemons

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.