Meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:20

Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:20 directly addresses the deeply problematic nature of participating in pagan sacrifices, even if the intent is to believe one is only eating food. He asserts that what is offered in pagan rituals is not presented to the true God, but rather to demonic entities. Therefore, to partake in these meals is to enter into fellowship or communion with these demons, which is fundamentally incompatible with fellowship with God. This warning is rooted in the Old Testament understanding of idolatry and the spiritual forces behind it, and Paul's primary concern is the spiritual purity and exclusive devotion of the Corinthian believers to Christ.

Context and Background

The Corinthian church was a vibrant, but also a highly syncretistic, community situated in a pagan city. Idolatry and its associated practices, including temple feasts where sacrifices were offered to various deities, were pervasive. Believers in Corinth were often faced with social pressures and practical dilemmas, such as attending meals in pagan homes where the meat offered at the temple might be served. Some Corinthians, perhaps influenced by a more "knowledgeable" (gnostic-leaning) perspective, believed that since "an idol is nothing in the world" (1 Cor. 8:4), and since there is only one God, their participation in these meals was harmless. They reasoned that the idol itself had no inherent power, and the food's origin was ultimately from God. Paul, however, is correcting this oversimplification by introducing a crucial spiritual dimension that they were overlooking.

Key Themes and Messages

The central theme is spiritual exclusivity and the danger of syncretism. Paul is not merely discussing dietary laws but the profound implications of spiritual association.

• Idolatry and Demonic Influence: Paul posits that pagan sacrifices are not neutral acts but are directed towards and acknowledged by demonic powers. This aligns with a biblical worldview that recognizes the existence of spiritual forces actively opposing God.
• Fellowship (Koinonia): The Greek word koinonia (translated as "participation" or "fellowship") is key. Paul uses it to describe the communion believers share with Christ and with one another through the Lord's Supper. He argues that participating in pagan meals creates a koinonia with demons, which is a direct repudiation of their koinonia with God.
• Discernment: The verse calls for spiritual discernment. Believers must distinguish between activities that honor God and those that align with spiritual forces opposed to Him.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The significance extends beyond ancient Corinth. It highlights the principle that our worship and associations have spiritual consequences.

• Purity of Worship: True worship is directed solely to the one true God. Any act that implicitly or explicitly honors other spiritual entities, even through association, compromises this purity.
• Avoiding Compromise: The verse serves as a stark warning against compromising one's faith for social acceptance or perceived intellectual superiority. It emphasizes that spiritual allegiance is non-negotiable.
• Modern Relevance: In contemporary contexts, this principle applies to any activity that aligns one with or promotes spiritual forces contrary to biblical truth, whether through certain forms of entertainment, New Age practices, or ideologies that deify creation or promote occultism.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse fits within the overarching biblical narrative of God's covenant people being called out of paganism and idolatry. From the Exodus, where Israel was commanded not to follow the practices of the Egyptians, to the prophets' denunciations of Baal worship, the Old Testament consistently warns against engaging with the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. The New Testament continues this theme, with apostles like Paul emphasizing the distinctiveness of the Christian life and the need to separate from the world's corrupting influences. The ultimate fulfillment of this separation is found in the New Jerusalem, where there is no place for anything defiling (Revelation 21:27).

Analogies

• A Wedding Ring: Just as a wedding ring signifies exclusive commitment to one's spouse, participation in pagan sacrifices signifies a spiritual commitment or association that is incompatible with commitment to God.
• Loyalty to a King: If a citizen pledges allegiance to a rebellious faction against their rightful king, this act of treason is understood as a betrayal of the king. Similarly, participating in demonic rituals is seen as a form of spiritual disloyalty to God.
• A Contaminated Well: Drinking from a well known to be contaminated with poison will inevitably lead to sickness. Likewise, participating in spiritually contaminated practices leads to spiritual harm.

Relation to Other Verses

• 1 Corinthians 10:14: "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry." This verse directly precedes 10:20 and sets the stage for the specific warning about sacrifices.
• 1 Corinthians 8:10: "For if anyone sees you—you who have 'knowledge'—dining in an idol's temple, will they not be emboldened to take part in what has been sacrificed to idols?" Paul here addresses the concern for weaker believers, but 10:20 provides the theological underpinning for why it is problematic even for the "knowledgeable."
• Deuteronomy 32:17: "They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they never knew, new gods that came into being, gods your ancestors never dreaded." This Old Testament passage echoes the same sentiment, identifying pagan sacrifices as being to demons.
• Psalm 106:37-38: "They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood." This passage vividly illustrates the horrific consequences of engaging with demonic worship.
• Revelation 18:4: "Then I heard another voice from heaven say: 'Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive what plagues come upon her!'" This apocalyptic call to separation from Babylon (representing the corrupt world system) resonates with Paul's call to separation from pagan practices.