1 COR 8:5 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Even though there are many so-called ‘gods’ and ‘masters’ said to live in the heavens or earth,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,”

UST It is true that there are many things that are in heaven or on earth that people call “gods.” In this way, many “gods” and “lords” exist.

BLB Truly even if indeed there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords,

AICNT For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many gods and many lords),

OEB Even supposing that there are so-called “gods” either in heaven or on earth – and there are many such “gods” and “lords” –

WEBBE For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—

WMBB (Same as above)

NET If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

LSV for even if there are those called gods, whether in Heaven, whether on earth—as there are many gods and many lords—

FBV Even though there are some things called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth—in fact there are many “gods” and “lords.”

TCNT For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),

T4T It is true that there are gods whom people think live in the heavens or whom they think live on earth. Truly, there are many beings that people call gods, and whom they call lords.

LEB For even if after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many gods and many lords,

BBE For though there are those who have the name of gods, in heaven or on earth, as there are a number of gods and a number of lords,

Moff (So-called gods there may be, in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are plenty of them, both gods and "lords"--

Wymth For if so-called gods do exist, either in Heaven or on earth—and in fact there are many such gods and many such lords—

ASV For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;

DRA For although there be that are called gods, either in heaven or on earth (for there be gods many, and lords many).

YLT for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth — as there are gods many and lords many —

Drby For and if indeed there are [those] called [fn]gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are [fn]gods many, and lords many,)

8.5 Elohim

RV For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;

SLT For also though they are called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon the earth, (for there are many gods, and many lords,)

Wbstr For though there are that are called gods, whether in heaven or upon earth, (as there are gods many, and lords many)

KJB-1769 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

KJB-1611 For though there bee that are called gods, whether in heauen or in earth (as there be gods many, and lords many:)
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps And though there be that are called gods, whether in heauen or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lordes many:)
(And though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many:))

Gnva For though there bee that are called gods, whether in heauen, or in earth (as there be many gods, and many lords)
(For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven, or in earth (as there be many gods, and many lords) )

Cvdl And though there be that are called goddes, whether in heauen or in earth (as there be goddes many and lordes many)
(And though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many and lords many))

TNT And though ther be that are called goddes whether in heven other in erth (as ther be goddes many and lordes many)
(And though there be that are called gods whether in heaven other in earth (as there be gods many and lords many) )

Wycl For thouy ther ben summe that ben seid goddis, ethir in heuene, ether in erthe, as ther ben many goddis, and many lordis;
(For though there been some that been said gods, either in heaven, either in earth, as there been many gods, and many lords;)

Luth Und wiewohl es sind, die Götter genannt werden, es sei, im Himmel oder auf Erden, sintemal es sind viel Götter und viel Herren:
(And although it are, the gods named become, it be, in_the heaven or on/in/to earth/land/ground, since it are many gods and many gentlemen:)

ClVg Nam etsi sunt qui dicantur dii sive in cælo, sive in terra (siquidem sunt dii multi, et domini multi):[fn]
(For/Surely even_though are who/which let_them_be_called gods if/or in/into/on the_sky, if/or in/into/on earth/land (siquidem are gods multi, and master multi): )

8.5 Si quidem sunt dii multi. Id est gentibus plures: quos terret Deus noster, id est dæmones qui volentes videri dii sibi exigunt quæ vero Deo debentur, aras, sacrificia, et alia. Noster vero homines deos facit.

8.5 When/But_if indeed are gods multi. That it_is nations many: which terret God our, that it_is demons who/which volentes to_seem gods to_himself exigunt which indeed/however to_God they_shouldur, altars, sacrifices(n), and other. Noster indeed/however people/men the_gods he_does.

UGNT καὶ γὰρ εἴπερ εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοὶ, εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπὶ γῆς, ὥσπερ εἰσὶν θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κύριοι πολλοί,
(kai gar eiper eisin legomenoi theoi, eite en ouranōi eite epi gaʸs, hōsper eisin theoi polloi kai kurioi polloi,)

SBL-GNT καὶ γὰρ εἴπερ εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοὶ εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπὶ γῆς, ὥσπερ εἰσὶν θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κύριοι πολλοί,
(kai gar eiper eisin legomenoi theoi eite en ouranōi eite epi gaʸs, hōsper eisin theoi polloi kai kurioi polloi,)

RP-GNT Καὶ γὰρ εἴπερ εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοί, εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπὶ γῆς· ὥσπερ εἰσὶν θεοὶ πολλοί, καὶ κύριοι πολλοί·
(Kai gar eiper eisin legomenoi theoi, eite en ouranōi eite epi gaʸs; hōsper eisin theoi polloi, kai kurioi polloi;)

TC-GNT Καὶ γὰρ εἴπερ εἰσὶ λεγόμενοι θεοί, εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπὶ [fn]γῆς· ὥσπερ εἰσὶ θεοὶ πολλοί, καὶ κύριοι πολλοί·
(Kai gar eiper eisi legomenoi theoi, eite en ouranōi eite epi gaʸs; hōsper eisi theoi polloi, kai kurioi polloi; )

8:5 γης ¦ της γης 𝔐^pt ANT PCK TR

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–13: Paul answered questions about eating meat that had been offered to idols

In this section Paul wrote about something else the Corinthians had asked him in their earlier letter. They had asked him whether it was acceptable for them to eat the meat of an animal that had been sacrificed to an idol. The primary context for eating such meat was at an idol’s temple. Sometimes an animal would be offered to a false god in connection with a celebration such as a birthday or wedding to seek the god’s blessing and presence at the celebration. The animal would be butchered by a priest and a portion of the meat would be burned on an altar as an offering to the false god. Some of the remaining meat would be returned to the person who offered it and could be eaten together with family or other invited guests at a private banquet room at the temple. (Some of the remaining meat might be sent to the meat market to be sold, a situation that Paul addresses in 10:25–26.)

There were two opinions in the Corinthian church about whether this meat could be eaten by a believer in Christ. Some of the Corinthian believers, including those who wrote the letter, understood that idols were only things that people have made or imagined. They were hoping Paul would agree with them that it was acceptable to eat this meat. However, some other believers thought that it was wrong to enter a temple and eat such meat. They still believed the false gods were real and believed that eating meat offered to them in sacrifice was an act of worship or fellowship with these gods.

Paul agreed in this chapter that the idols worshiped at these temples were not real gods. But he did not give permission to eat this meat at their temple. Doing so might influence other believers to also eat the meat, even though they believed it was wrong. Paul asked the Corinthians believers to act in love toward these brothers rather than selfishly demanding the right to eat this meat.

In chapter 10, Paul will continue to answer the question about eating meat sacrificed to idols. He says that a believer can have no part in the worship of idols and also that demons are active in the sacrifices to idols. He also addresses the separate situations of buying and eating meat sold in the meat market and what to do when someone invites you to eat meat in their home. Before this, in chapter 9, he uses himself as an illustration of the principle he set down at the end of chapter 8 of giving up your rights in love. He had the right to be paid for his work as an apostle, but he gave up his right so that the good news of Jesus would be better accepted.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings for this section are:

Paul gave instructions about eating meat of/from animals that had been sacrificed to false gods

Believers should not eat anything that causes other believers to sin

Paragraph 8:4–6

Paul began to write his answer to the Corinthians’ questions about eating food sacrificed to idols. In this paragraph he began by agreeing with them about several things.

8:5–6

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For here introduces a further explanation of what Paul said in 8:4b-c. Some English versions do not translate this word.

You should introduce this further explanation in a way that is natural in your language.

even if: The Greek words that the BSB translate as even if here introduce a contrast between what the idol worshipers believed and what the Christians believed. Verse 5 tells what the idol worshipers believed. Verse 6 tells what the Christians believed. Some other ways to translate the contrast between 8:5 and 8:6 are:

⁵People may say that there are gods in heaven and on earth…⁶But for us, “There is only one God,… (GW)

⁵Even though there are things called gods,…⁶for us there is only one God… (NCV)

8:5a

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth

For even though for others there may be beings called gods, in heaven or on earth,
-or-
Some people may say that other gods do live, either in heaven or on earth.

so-called gods: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as so-called gods here indicates that people spoke about beings that they called gods. Many people thought of the idols as being real gods or as representing real gods. Paul did not agree that they were gods. Other ways to translate this include:

beings whom/that people call gods

things called gods (NCV)

People may say that there are gods (GW)

whether in heaven or on earth: Paul was indicating that people talked about gods as either dwelling in heaven or on earth.

8:5b

(as there are many so-called gods and lords),

and in fact there are plenty of gods like this and plenty of lords,
They actually worship/honor many such gods and try to please/serve many such powerful spiritual beings.

(as there are many so-called gods and lords): Paul adds that some of these so-called gods are referred to as gods and some are called lords. He himself did not think of idols as real gods and lords, but he knew that this is what people called them. The BSB indicates this by using the word so-called. Some English versions use quotation marks around gods and lords to indicate this. For example:

as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” (RSV)

lords: Here this word refers to nonhuman beings that the Greeks and others at this time considered to be rulers in spiritual realms. Some other ways to translate this are:

spiritual rulers

powerful spiritual beings

General Comment on 8:5a-b

In 5b, Paul adds a further comment about the “so-called gods” mentioned in 5a. Some English versions punctuate this with parenthesis (as the BSB). But it is also possible to use commas or whatever is most natural in your language. For example:

For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, there are many so-called gods and many lords,… (NASB)

Verse 5 begins with the concept of “so-called gods” and then further explains them saying they may be found in heaven or on earth and they may be called either “gods” or “lords.” It may be more natural to reorder these elements. For example:

Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords. (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

καὶ & εἴπερ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ εἴπερ εἰσίν λεγόμενοι θεοί εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπί γῆς ὥσπερ εἰσίν θεοί πολλοί καί κύριοι πολλοί)

Here, even if introduces a possibility that Paul does not believe to be true. In other words, Paul does not think that there are many gods and many lords. He does think that people speak about many gods and many lords. Thus, his main point is that, no matter how many gods and lords other people talk about, believers only acknowledge one God and one Lord ([8:6](../08/06.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express even if with a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that the speaker believes is not true. Alternate translation: [although it might be that] or [while some people claim that]

εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοὶ

Alternate translation: [people name many gods]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

θεοὶ, εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπὶ γῆς

Paul speaks, using heaven and earth in order to include them and everything in between. By speaking in this way, he includes every place that God created. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [gods in all parts of creation]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κύριοι πολλοί

Here Paul acknowledges that there are many “gods” and “lords”. He implies that so-called from earlier in the verse also applies here, so the ULT has put quotation marks around gods and lords to indicate that these are the names people use. Paul himself does not believe that what people call gods and lords really are those things; rather, [10:20–21](../10/20.md) suggests that Paul thinks these gods and lords are actually demons. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express what Paul means by “gods” and “lords” with a form that indicates that Paul is speaking from someone else’s perspective. Alternate translation: [many so-called gods and many so-called lords]