What Exactly Does "Have Fellowship With Devils" Mean?

[Scripture More Accurately]

Some advice, use scripture to back up your claims and hypothesis.

I always do.

The claim that having fellowship with demons in 1 Cor. 10:20 means following demonic teaching has zero biblical support. No one has provided any biblical support to show that demons originated the human practice of offering sacrifices on altars to idols.

 

[tyndale1946]

I always do.

The claim that having fellowship with demons in 1 Cor. 10:20 means following demonic teaching has zero biblical support. No one has provided any biblical support to show that demons originated the human practice of offering sacrifices on altars to idols.

Well brethren this thought has never crossed by mind... And should I be concerned with it Icon?... So since I'm in ignorance on the subject, I agree with what, someone who is way smarter than me, you, or us, John Gill has to say... Brother Glen

that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto
devils, and not to God;
reference is had to ( Deuteronomy 32:17 ) for what the Gentiles sacrificed, though they did not sacrifice intentionally to the idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, but to God in them, as they pretended; yet inasmuch as in such worship and sacrifices they were directed, instigated, influenced, and assisted by devils, who took up their residence in these idols, and gave forth their oracles from them, they sacrificed to them; and which some have done, as in India and China, professedly and openly, and all other idolaters, eventually, virtually, and covertly:

and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils;
as all wicked men have, in the commission of any lust, sin, or immorality; and as all idolaters have in their superstitious practices, and idolatrous worship; and if grace prevent not, will have to all eternity in everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; wherefore the apostle would have the Corinthians flee from idolatry, and all appearance of it, and abstain from eating things offered to idols, of which they could not eat without having fellowship with devils; this he says, to deter them from such practices, which must be very horrible and shocking, and bespeaks in him great care of them, and affection for them.

 

[tyndale1946]

Well brethren this thought has never crossed by mind... And should I be concerned with it Icon?... So since I'm in ignorance on the subject, I agree with what, someone who is way smarter than me, you, or us, John Gill has to say... Brother Glen

that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto
devils, and not to God;
reference is had to ( Deuteronomy 32:17 ) for what the Gentiles sacrificed, though they did not sacrifice intentionally to the idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, but to God in them, as they pretended; yet inasmuch as in such worship and sacrifices they were directed, instigated, influenced, and assisted by devils, who took up their residence in these idols, and gave forth their oracles from them, they sacrificed to them; and which some have done, as in India and China, professedly and openly, and all other idolaters, eventually, virtually, and covertly:

and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils;
as all wicked men have, in the commission of any lust, sin, or immorality; and as all idolaters have in their superstitious practices, and idolatrous worship; and if grace prevent not, will have to all eternity in everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; wherefore the apostle would have the Corinthians flee from idolatry, and all appearance of it, and abstain from eating things offered to idols, of which they could not eat without having fellowship with devils; this he says, to deter them from such practices, which must be very horrible and shocking, and bespeaks in him great care of them, and affection for them.

Btw... It is possible that some have never heard of John Gill, for those who haven't, here is the link.

John Gill (theologian) - Wikipedia

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Well brethren this thought has never crossed by mind... And should I be concerned with it Icon?... So since I'm in ignorance on the subject, I agree with what, someone who is way smarter than me, you, or us, John Gill has to say... Brother Glen

that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto
devils, and not to God;
reference is had to ( Deuteronomy 32:17 ) for what the Gentiles sacrificed, though they did not sacrifice intentionally to the idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, but to God in them, as they pretended; yet inasmuch as in such worship and sacrifices they were directed, instigated, influenced, and assisted by devils, who took up their residence in these idols, and gave forth their oracles from them, they sacrificed to them; and which some have done, as in India and China, professedly and openly, and all other idolaters, eventually, virtually, and covertly:

and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils;
as all wicked men have, in the commission of any lust, sin, or immorality; and as all idolaters have in their superstitious practices, and idolatrous worship; and if grace prevent not, will have to all eternity in everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; wherefore the apostle would have the Corinthians flee from idolatry, and all appearance of it, and abstain from eating things offered to idols, of which they could not eat without having fellowship with devils; this he says, to deter them from such practices, which must be very horrible and shocking, and bespeaks in him great care of them, and affection for them.

Just because Gill says something is true does not make it true. Notice that Gill does not provide any actual Scripture to support what he says. Deut. 32:17 does not say anything about the idolatry being "directed, instigated, influenced, and assisted by devils."

Deuteronomy 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.​

No one has yet provided any actual Scipture to support that having fellowship with demons means that demons directed the humans to sacrifice things on altars to idols.

 

[Alan Gross]

idolatry being "directed, instigated, influenced, and assisted by devils."

It's commentary.

What else is 'behind' idolatry?

From the passage, considering the tenor of the rest of the scripture?

Gill intentionally describes and explains things. That's a preacher's job.

 

[JonC]

I think it is not possible to restrict the discussion strictly to verse 20.

Well, it may be possible...just unprofitable.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

It's commentary.

What else is 'behind' idolatry?

From the passage, considering the tenor of the rest of the scripture?

Gill intentionally describes and explains things. That's a preacher's job.

Commentary that is not based on Scripture is just human explanation. It may be right, or it may be wrong.

Based on Adam's sinning against God that was not based on the devil's deception, it is entirely possible that the first idolater came up with the idea on his own without any demonic instigation for him to do so.

In Paul's chief treatment of idolatry in Romans 1, Paul does not say anything about demons instigating humans to be idolaters. That would have been the perfect place for such an explanation to be given by the Spirit-- if in fact human idolatry was and is instigated by demons.

 

[Alan Gross]

In Paul's chief treatment of idolatry in Romans 1, Paul does not say anything about demons instigating humans to be idolaters. That would have been the perfect place for such an explanation to be given by the Spirit-- if in fact human idolatry was and is instigated by demons.

Based on Adam's sinning against God that was not based on the devil's deception, it is entirely possible that the first idolater came up with the idea on his own without any demonic instigation for him to do so.

Commentary that is not based on Scripture is just human explanation. It may be right, or it may be wrong.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

We know from explicit biblical statement that Adam was not deceived when he chose to sin against God:

1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.​

What I said about Adam is not mere human explanation; it is based on explicit divine revelation.