1 Corinthians 8:5
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 8:5
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 8 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, love, wisdom. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-13: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it provides guidance for worship and spiritual devotion. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 8:5
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
Analysis
For though there be that are called gods (εἴπερ εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοί, eiper eisin legomenoi theoi, "if indeed there are so-called gods")—Paul acknowledges polytheism's ubiquity while denying its reality. The participle legomenoi ("called, so-called") is dismissive—these entities are titled gods but lack divine essence. The parenthetical as there be gods many, and lords many recognizes the Greco-Roman pantheon's vastness without conceding legitimacy.
Paul's distinction between theoi (gods) and kyrioi (lords) reflects pagan religious taxonomy—"gods" were supernatural beings, while "lords" could include deified emperors and patron deities. The phrase "whether in heaven or in earth" encompasses celestial and chthonic deities. Paul's rhetorical strategy grants the cultural phenomenon (gods exist as cultural constructs and demonic deceptions, cf. 10:20) while asserting theological reality: only one true God exists.
Historical Context
The Roman Empire's religious pluralism accommodated countless deities—Olympian gods, Eastern mystery religions (Isis, Mithras), imperial cult worship, and local patron gods. Each city had patron deities; Corinth honored Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Apollo prominently. Participation in civic religious festivals was expected, creating pressure on Christians to compromise. The phrase "lords many" likely includes emperor worship, increasingly mandatory in the first century.
Reflection
- What modern "gods many and lords many" compete for ultimate allegiance in your life (money, success, politics, ideology)?
- How do you live distinctively Christian in a pluralistic culture that treats all religious claims as equally valid?
- Where are you tempted to compromise Christian exclusivity to avoid social ostracism?
Word Studies
- Heaven: οὐρανός (Ouranos) G3772 - Heaven, sky
Cross-References
- References God: Deuteronomy 10:17, Jeremiah 2:11, 2:28, 11:13, Daniel 5:4, Galatians 4:8