1 Corinthians 10:20 - Exposition

But . The word rejects the former hypothesis. "[No I do not admit that], but what I say is that," etc. They sacrifice to devils, and not to God . The word "demons" should be used, not" devils" ( Deuteronomy 32:17 ). The argument is that, though the idol is nothing—a mere stock or stone—it is yet the material symbol of a demon (see Psalms 96:5 ; Psalms 106:37 ; Baruch 4:7). So Milton -

"And devils to adore for deities;

Then were they known to men by various names,

And various idols through the heathen world,…

The chief were those who, from the pit of hell,

Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix

Their seats long after next the seat of God,

Their altars by his altar, gods adored

Among the nations round."

('Paradise Lost,' 1.)

St. Paul uses a word which, while it would not be needlessly offensive to Gentiles, conveyed his meaning. The Greeks themselves called their deities daimonia, and St. Paul adopts the word; but to Jewish ears it meant, not "deities" or "demigods," but "demons."