The comment on the first thesis: “That
there is no idol in the cosmos” is given in this difficult sentence: “If indeed
there are so-called gods either in heaven or on earth, then in that sense there
are many gods and many lords”. Notwithstanding its rather laborious grammar
this sentence expresses a clear thought. The thesis, that there is no idol in
the cosmos leaves room for the existence of so-called gods in heaven or on earth
and in that genre there actually are many gods and many lords. Paul confirms
the reality of the many gods and lords of the hellenistic religion, but changes
their status. They do not belong to the category of ‘god’ resp. ‘idol’, but to
that of the ‘so-called gods’. In 1 Cor 10,19-21 he classifies them under the
‘demons’. Among Greek speaking Jews this comment is familiar. The conviction
“that all gods of the nations are demons, but that the Lord has made the
heavens” (Ps 95,5 LXX) is well-known in scripture. (J. F. M. Smit, “1 Cor 8,16:
A Rhetorical Partitio: A Contribution to the Coherence of 1 Cor 8,1-11,”
in The Corinthian Correspondence, ed. R. Bieringer [Bibliotheca
Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium 125; Leuven: Leuven University Press,
1996], 585)