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 the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. 4So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. 7However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.

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 10:17“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed.
• Jeremiah 2:11Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
• Jeremiah 11:13Look now, people of Judah; you have as many gods as you have towns. You have as many altars of shame—altars for burning incense to your god Baal—as there are streets in Jerusalem.
• Daniel 5:4While they drank from them they praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
• John 10:34Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’
• Galatians 4:8Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:4He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming 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