1 Corinthians 10:20 (KJV)

Passage

But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

1 Corinthians 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

1 Corinthians 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "things", "gentiles", "sacrifice", "devils", "should", and "fellowship". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "things" and "gentiles", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "What say I then that the idol..." into verse 21's "Ye cannot drink the cup of the...", so "things" and "gentiles" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "things" and "gentiles" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.