Why did the Gentiles sacrifice to demons instead of God?
The Gentiles sacrificed to demons and not to God because they knew nothing of God; He was a total unknown to them. Even though the Jews had been in their midst for hundreds of years, they still knew nothing of the God of Abraham, so their worship went to demons.
Les explains Paul’s point in I Corinthians 10: the Gentiles’ sacrifices were offered to demons, not to God, because they knew nothing of God and He was a total unknown to them. Though the Jews had been among them for hundreds of years, they still did not know the God of Abraham. Les also notes that in Scripture “heathen” simply means any non-Jew, not necessarily the deep paganism we often picture. Paul then warns that there can be no fellowship with demons, and he builds his case for the communion table: you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, nor be partakers of the Lord’s table and the table of demons. II Corinthians 6 likewise says you cannot have fellowship with God and demons; separation is required.
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.
More Questions
Why does Paul say the Gentiles sacrifice to demons and not to God?
The Gentiles sacrifice to demons and not to God because they know nothing of God; He is a total unknown to them.