1 Corinthians 8:5

1 Corinthians 8:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
• New International Version (NIV)For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),
• English Standard Version (ESV)For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"—
• New King James Version (NKJV)For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

Context of 1 Corinthians 8:5

3But if somebody loves God, he is God's friend. God knows that person. 4So think about food that people have offered to idols. You ask, ‘Should Christians eat that food?’ We know that no idol is really alive. We also know that there is only one God. It is true that people call many things their gods. Those are things both in heaven and on earth. Those people have many gods and many lords. 6But for us there is only one God, who is the Father. All things come from him. We live to serve him. For us, there is only one Lord, who is Jesus Christ. All things are there because of him. And we ourselves live because of him. 7But not everyone understands properly about idols. Before they believed in Christ, some people worshipped idols for many years. So if they eat food that people have offered to an idol, they become afraid. They think that the food belongs to a real god. Their thoughts are weak. They think that they are doing something wrong.

1 Corinthians 8:5 word by word

καὶ γὰρ εἴπερ εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοὶ εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπὶ γῆς, ὥσπερ εἰσὶν θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κύριοι πολλοί·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·καίkai · andG2532
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• thoughεἴπερei per · if so/sinceG1512
• there beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• that are calledλέγωlegō · to say: callG3004
• godsθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• whetherεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• lordsκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 8:5

• Deuteronomy 10:17For the Lord your God rules all other gods. He is the Lord over all other lords. He is great and powerful. We should respect him and obey him. He is fair to everyone. He will not accept any bribes!
• Jeremiah 2:11Have any other nations turned against their gods? No! They have not done that, even to their false gods! But my people have turned against me, the true God who makes them great.’
• Jeremiah 11:13You people of Judah have as many gods as you have towns! You have built many altars to offer sacrifices to that disgusting god, Baal. You have built as many of those altars as there are streets in Jerusalem!”
• Daniel 5:4While they drank the wine, they praised their gods. Their gods were idols that were made from gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.
• John 10:34Jesus answered them, ‘It is written in your own books of God's Law that God said, “You are gods.”
• Galatians 4:8Before, when you did not know God, you served false gods. They were not gods at all, but you were their slaves.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:4This man will be God's great enemy. He will say that he is greater than everything that people call their gods. He will say that he is greater than everything that people worship. As a result, he will even go into the temple. He will sit down there like a king. He will tell everyone that he himself is God.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 8:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5There be that are called gods - There are many images that are supposed to be representations of divinities: but these divinities are nothing, the figments of mere fancy; and these images have no corresponding realities. Whether in heaven or in earth - As the sun, moon, planets, stars, the ocean, rivers, trees, etc. And thus there are, nominally, gods many, and lords many.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5That are called gods - Gods so called. The pagans everywhere worshipped multitudes, and gave to them the name of gods. Whether in heaven - Residing in heaven, as a part of the gods were supposed to do. Perhaps, there may be allusion here to the sun, moon, and stars; but I rather suppose that reference is made to the celestial deities, or to those who were supposed to reside in heaven, though they were supposed occasionally to visit the earth, as Jupiter…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6In reality, the idols to which such meat is sacrificed are not gods, because there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; see also Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 10:19–20). He is the Creator of everything, including the meat being sacrificed for the idols. The only ultimate reality is God, the Father, and the one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created (see also John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. "For even supposing there are (exist) gods so called (2Th 2:4), whether in heaven (as the sun, moon, and stars) or in earth (as deified kings, beasts, &c.), as there be (a recognized fact, De 10:17; Psa 135:5; 136:2) gods many and lords many." Angels and men in authority are termed gods in Scripture, as exercising a divinely delegated power under God (compare Ex 22:9, with Ex 22:28; Psa 82:1, 6; Joh 10:34, 35).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 8:5

• Fraternity
• God Continued...
• Idolatry
• Polytheism

In the dictionaries

• Charity
• Commend
• Offend
• Perish
• Touching
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Food
• Gods
• Jude, the Epistle of
• Mediation; Mediator

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings