1 Corinthians 8:5

For though there be that are called gods whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

The multiple names of pagan mythology illustrate the truth Paul mentioned regarding gods many and lords many; but the very fact of their being thought of as operating in heaven or on earth proved that none of them controlled "all things," hence the fragmented nature of deity as misunderstood in paganism.

One God, the Father, of whom are all things ... There is no limitation with God, who cannot be localized like the false gods of the pagans. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things in heaven or upon earth.

To us there is one God ... There is a difference in Christianity and false religions. "The Christian is not a syncretist, who attempts to harmonize the teachings of all religions."[10]

Gods many and lords many ... Grosheide distinguished between the so-called deities of the pagans and their "heroes or demigods";[11] but the terms are here considered to be synonymous.

LORD was the usual way of referring to deity in the various cults of the time, which makes Paul's frequent application of it to Jesus Christ significant. Paul simply made it clear that the heathen world worshipped a multitude of deities, putting no difference between them.[12]

One Lord Jesus Christ ... There is affirmed here the oneness of God and Christ. God is honored as the Creator of all things and Christ his Son as the Creator of the New Creation. Jesus Christ is called "God" no less than ten times in the Greek New Testament. See my Commentary on Hebrews, p. 31.

We through him ... means "for whom we exist."[13]

Through whom are all things ... in this clause "must be co-extensive with the `all things' in the preceding verse, that is, the universe."[14]

[10] Donald S. Metz, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1968), p. 392.

[11] F. W. Grosheide, op. cit., p. 192.

[12] Leon Morris, op. cit., p. 126.

[13] F. W. Grosheide, op. cit., p 192.

[14] David Lipscomb, op. cit., p. 120.