Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:19

"What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?" — 1 Corinthians 10:19 (ASV)

Here Paul compares the OT sacrifices with pagan offerings. When the people of Israel sacrificed at the altar and ate part of the sacrifice (Leviticus 7:15; Leviticus 8:31), they participated in and became a part of the sacrificial system and worship of God. The apostle does not mean that the meat sacrificed to an idol or the idol itself is anything, but he does insist that when the pagans sacrifice, they do so to demons, and he does not want the Corinthians to share in worship having to do with demons. One cannot do both-—participate in Christ and in demons.