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NASB | 1 Corinthians 8:5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 8:5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, |
Subject: Scriptural Support for you position? |
Bible Note: The context of 2 Cor 4:4 may actually help one to draw the conclusion that Satan is "the god of this world". How? Early in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians he mentions "Satan" by name in 2 Cor 2:11 (The Amplied Bible), warning: "To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions." It is evident in this letter that the apostle Paul and early Christians understood Satan by many terms; each of these terms are qualified by similar character traits - a cunning lier with the sole objective of misleading people from serving the Creator. Thus with Satan's name already mentioned early in the letter - not too much later - 2 Cor 4:4 says "For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers minds (that they should not discern the truth), preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of the Christ..." The qualifying remarks about "the god of this world" in 2 Cor 4:4 namely, "has blinded the unbelievers' minds" is an expansion of Satan description found earlier in 2 Cor 2:11 "we are not ignorant of his wiles AND INTENTIONS". However, Paul calls him "the god of this world" in 2 Cor 4:4. Supporting this thought that the apostle Paul did not have to keep re-introducing Satan's "name" everytime he refered to him in his letter is this verse - later in the letter - 2 Cor 11:3 "But [now] I am fearful lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ". In the contextual reading of 2 Corinthians, it's not difficult to understand why the translators of The Living Bible found no issue with including Satan in 2 Cor 4:4 ("Satan, who is the god of this evil world...".) So "Satan", "the god of this world", and "the serpent" all with the same motive (to mislead, blind, seduce, etc.) are the same and the fact that the apostle Paul doesn't attempt to show them as different also leads one to this conclusion. Lastly, the other verses from other parts of the Christian scriptures mentioned in the other threads harmonize with this conclusion. Sincerely hope this helps... |