John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:20

"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." — 1 Corinthians 10:20 (ASV)

But the things that the Gentiles sacrifice. To complete the answer, a negative must be understood in this way: “I do not say that an idol is anything, nor do I imagine it to be endowed with any virtue, but I say that the Gentiles sacrifice to the devil and not to gods those things which they do sacrifice, and therefore I assess the act by their wicked and impious superstition.”

For we must always look to the intention with which a thing is done. He, then, who connects himself with them declares that he has fellowship with them in the same impiety.

He therefore continues with what he had begun: “If we were dealing with God only, those things would be nothing; but, in relation to men, they become blameworthy, because no one sits down to an idol feast who does not declare himself to be a worshipper of the idol.”

Some, however, understand the term demons here as meaning the imaginary deities of the Gentiles, according to their common way of speaking of them. For when they spoke of demons, they meant inferior deities, such as heroes, and thus the term was taken in a good sense. Plato, in various instances, uses the term to denote genii, or angels.

That meaning, however, would be quite contrary to Paul’s purpose, for his object is to show that it is not a minor offense to be involved with actions that have any appearance of honoring idols. Therefore, it suited his purpose not to downplay, but rather to magnify the impiety involved. How absurd, then, it would have been to select an honorable term to denote the most heinous wickedness! It is certain from the Prophet Baruch that those things that are sacrificed to idols are sacrificed to devils (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalms 96:5). In that passage in the writings of the Prophet, the Greek translation, which was at that time in common use, has δαιμόνια — demons, and this is its common use in Scripture. How much more likely is it, then, that Paul borrowed what he says from the Prophet to express the enormity of the evil, than that, speaking in the manner of the heathen, he downplayed what he was eager to condemn utterly!

It may seem, however, as if these things were somewhat at variance with what I stated previously—that Paul considered the intention of idolaters, for it is not their intention to worship devils, but imaginary deities of their own creation. I answer that the two things are quite in harmony. For when men become so vain in their imaginations (Romans 1:21) as to give divine honor to creatures rather than to the one God, this punishment awaits them: they serve Satan. For they do not find that “middle place” for which they are searching, but Satan immediately presents himself to them as an object of adoration whenever they have turned their back on the true God.

I would not that you. If the term demon were used in an indifferent sense, how spiritless Paul’s statement here would be, while, instead of this, it has the greatest weight and severity against idolaters! He adds the reason: because no one can have fellowship at the same time with God and with idols. Now, in all sacred observances, there is a profession of fellowship. Let us understand, therefore, that we are then, and then only, admitted by Christ to the sacred feast of his body and blood when we have first of all bid farewell to everything sacrilegious. For the person who would enjoy the one must renounce the other. O thrice miserable the condition of those who, from fear of displeasing men, do not hesitate to pollute themselves with unlawful superstitions! For by acting in this way, they voluntarily renounce fellowship with Christ and obstruct their approach to his health-giving table.