False gods and idols – The Christian Exile

Many Christians grow up hearing that the other “gods” in the Bible are nothing more than carved idols or imaginary inventions. After all, the Bible insists in no uncertain terms that there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4).

And yet, the inspired text often speaks of these other “gods” in ways that sound far more real than imaginary. For example, in the book of Psalms, the LORD is praised as being superior above all other “gods.” Psalm 95:3 declares: “The LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods,” and Psalm 97:9 states, “You are exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 29:1 even claims that the one God deserves worship from the other “elohim.” Even in the New Testament, in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, when Paul addresses the question of eating food offered to idols, he admitted that “indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’” (1 Corinthians 8:5) before clarifying that for Christians there is only one God (1 Corinthians 8:6).

So what do we make of this? Is God just accommodating ancient superstitions? Is He really praised for being greater than things that do not exist? How would such a claim bring honor to the LORD? If these “gods” were purely imaginary, then such praise would be trivial – like saying the Almighty is stronger than a fictional comic-book hero. To say that God is greater than an imaginary being would be an empty comparison, like claiming that the sun shines brighter than a shadow. The glory of God is not seen in contrast to what is unreal, but in His supremacy over all that truly exists.

Or could it be that Scripture is revealing something true about the spiritual world? Are these “other gods” genuine spiritual beings? Or are they simply the products of ancient imaginations? To answer this, we first need to examine the Bible’s own vocabulary for identifying these other gods.

The Hebrew Word Elohim

The English word “God” is a decent translation of the Hebrew word elohim, but it is not a perfect one. In English, the word “God” usually carries one of two meanings.

(capitalized) The one true supreme being, the Creator of the universe
(uncapitalized) A pretend deity, the gods from ancient mythology

But the Hebrew word elohim has a broader range of meaning.

1. Elohim as the Creator

Similar to the English word God, the Hebrew word is sometimes used to refer to the one true Creator of the universe. The very first verse of Scripture says “In the beginning, elohim created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Over and over again, Israel’s God is identified as elohim (Exodus 3:6; Deuteronomy 4:35; Psalm 100:3). When used in this way, the text always sets Him apart as unique, sovereign, and incomparable (Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 86:10).

2. Elohim as the gods of the nations

Also similar to the English word God, the Hebrew word is sometimes used to refer to the false gods of the nations. The Ten Commandments forbids Israel from having any “other elohim” before the LORD (Exodus 20:3). Deuteronomy observed that the surrounding nations “served their elohim” (Deuteronomy 29:26). It can be observed that the word elohim functions as both singular and plural, so determining whether it refers to “God” or false “gods” requires examination of the context.

3. Elohim as other spiritual beings

This is where it gets interesting. Elohim can also refer to other spiritual beings we normally wouldn’t call “gods” in English.

Psalm 8:5 says that mankind was created “a little lower than the elohim.” Translations of this verse vary. ESV translates elohim here as “heavenly beings.” KJV and NIV translate it as “angels.” The Greek Septuagint, used by Jesus and the apostles, chose “angels,” a rendering confirmed by inspiration in Hebrews 2:6-8. Regardless of how we translate it, it is clear that mankind was created a little lower than real spiritual beings.

Psalm 82 describes God as presiding in a divine council:

God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.
Psalm 82:1

Again, God is described as holding judgment in a council of real spiritual beings.

In 1 Samuel 28:13, when Saul consults the witch of En-dor, she reports: “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” Again, she did indeed see a real spiritual being coming up out of the earth – the deceased human Samuel.

In short, elohim is not a title restricted to the Supreme Creator. It is a more general word for inhabitants of the spiritual realm, many of which are indeed very real. There is certainly a sense in which the LORD is the one true Elohim, but the Bible also recognizes the existence of other real spiritual beings, which Scripture refers to as elohim.

So when we ask, “Are the other gods in the Bible real?” the answer depends on what we mean by “gods.” If by “gods” we mean spiritual beings in a general sense, then yes – the Bible teaches that other “gods” are real.

There is Only One LORD

But while the Bible acknowledges the reality of other spiritual beings, it never endorses what people today refer to as polytheism. The God of Israel is utterly unique, set apart from all others.

Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
Exodus 15:11

For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?
Deuteronomy 3:24

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord.
Psalm 86:8

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Psalm 95:3

For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted above all gods.
Psalm 97:9

No, these passages are not comparing God to imaginary beings like Captain America or Spider-man. These passages proclaim that the LORD is supreme above all real spiritual beings.

The LORD is unique in His power (Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Psalm 115:3) and is the Creator of all others (Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 148:1-5). As Nehemiah 9:6 plainly states, “You are the LORD, you alone.”

Just because the Bible says that there are other elohim, it quite plainly denies polytheism. It continually exalts the one incomparable God above all other spiritual beings.

Why Call Them “False Gods”?

If other elohim exist, why does Scripture so often label them as “false gods” (2 Chronicles 13:9; Isaiah 44:9-20)?

Because their claims to deity are false.

They are not equal to the LORD
They did not create heaven and earth
Their power is incomparable to the LORD’s
They cannot save, redeem, or give life

Compared to the LORD, they are “nothing” (Isaiah 41:24). Not because they don’t exist, but because their claims are empty.

Think of it this way: If I were to point out a con artist, and ask you “Is that con artist real?” how would you respond? Of course the con artist is real, in the sense the con artist is an actual person. But is the character the con artist pretends to be real? And are the stories the con artist tells real? Of course not! In the same way, these “other gods” in the Bible are real spiritual beings, but their claims to supremacy and their calls for worship and allegiance are lies.

Deuteronomy 32:17 clarifies that when Israel sacrificed to other “gods,” they were really sacrificing to demons.

They sacrificed to demons that were no gods,
to gods they had never known,
to new gods that had come recently,
whom your fathers had never dreaded.

Paul makes the same point in 1 Corinthians 10:19-20: pagan sacrifices are not meaningless gestures to imaginary idols – they are participation with demons.

What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to gods. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Likewise, Galatians 4:8 says that Gentiles were enslaved to “those that by nature are not gods.” They were real beings – beings who were capable of enslaving – but not true gods.

So, Are the Other Gods Real?

Yes and no.

Yes, if by “real” we mean actual spiritual beings who exist behind the veil of the unseen spiritual realm.

No, if by “real” we mean equal rivals to the Creator.

The Bible affirms the reality of a spiritual world filled with many spiritual beings, beings which at times are referred to as elohim. But the Bible never compromises the uniqueness of the LORD God.

We do not live in a world with one God who actually exists and countless imaginary ones. We live in a world where the one true God reigns supreme over a host of other real, but lesser, spiritual beings.

And in such a world, the call remains the same: