10:14-22 What are we to understand from what Paul says here?
10:14-22 What are we to understand from what Paul says here?
The majority of Christians see this passage as merely referring to meat sacrificed to idols and idolatrous feasts, but there is much more to it than that. Paul teaches here that although an idol is nothing in the world, it does represent something that is not the true God.
An idol is not only an image of something, it is also a representation, whether physical or imaginary, of some other thing. Idolatry manifests itself in various forms, but whatever form it takes it involves the worship of demons (CP V19-21 and 8:4 with Psa 106:36-39).
Anyone involved in any form of idolatry is communing with demons, and that is what Paul is warning Christians against in 1Cor 10:14-22.
We should note here that the Old Testament conception of idolatry has been broadened in the New Testament to include covetousness (CP Eph 5:5; Col 3:1-5). Covetousness expresses the inordinate desire to make something other than God central in life (CP Lu 12:15-34 with Mt 6:19-21, 24 and Lu 16:13-15).
This is a word in season for contemporary Christians in light of the proliferation of prosperity doctrines being taught in the church. While contemporary Christians would not worship an idol made out of wood or stone, those who accumulate wealth and possessions are nonetheless involved in idolatry, and worship the demons behind covetousness.
Christians must learn to distinguish between things idolatrous and the things of God because God is totally opposed to idolatry and will not let it go unpunished. (CP 1Cor 10:22 with De 32:16-17, 21; Jer 25:5-6; 1Cor 6:9-10; Ga 5:19-21; 1Jn 5:21; Rev 21:7-8; 22:15).
See also author's study Christians - Flee from Idolatry in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).