He claims further that such action was a virtual renunciation
Idolatry 119 from the dangers of idolatry. He does this by allowing the principle on which they would argue it to be lawful; namely, that an idol was nothing. Many of them were nothing at all.
None of them had any divinity in them. What was sacrificed to idols was nothing, no way changed from what it was before, but was every whit as fit for food, considered in itself. They indeed seem to argue that, because an idol was nothing, what was offered was no sacrifice but common or ordinary food, of which they might therefore eat with as little scruple. Now the apostle allows that the food was not changed as to its nature, was as fit to be eaten as common food, where it was set before any who knew not of its having been offered to an idol.
But he proves that eating it as part of a heathen sacrifice was a partaking with them in their idolatry. It was having fellowship with devils, because what the heathens sacrificed they sacrificed to devils. To feast with them upon these sacrifices was to partake in the sacrifice, and therefore to worship the god to whom it was made, and have fellowship or communion with them, just as he who eats the Lord's supper is supposed to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they which ate the Jewish sacrifices did partake of what was offered on their altar.
But heathens sacrificed to devils. Therefore do not feast on their sacrifices; doing it is a token of your having fellowship with the demons to whom they are offered. I would not have you be in communion with devils.
6. IpoLaTRY ANGERS GoD
He claims further that such action was a virtual renunciation of Christianity. 'You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils" (1 Cor. x. 21).
So St. Paul warns the Corinthians upon the whole against such idolatry, by signifying to them that God is a jealous God. "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?"' (1 Cor.
x. 22). It is very likely that many among the Corinthians made light of being at their heathen feasts, and thought there was no harm in it; but the apostle bids them beware. God cannot endure a rival in the matter of worship, nor give His glory, nor suffer it to be given, to another. It is a dangerous thing to provoke God's anger, unless we could withstand His power. But who can stand before Him when He is angry? (Nahum i. 6).