Non-God gods

Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:8

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

Did Paul hold to an atheistic or demonological understanding of pagan gods? Did he view these non-God gods as nothing or as real entities that were actually demons? It seems to me, that he seemed to see both as a possible answer. In some cases false gods were non-entities, and in other cases, there were real demonic forces involved and the worship of false gods was the worship of demons.

The important point to understand from Galatians 4:8 is that these non-God gods are fundamentally just that – not God. They are by nature not God.

When you think of the religions and sects among humanity around the world, you shouldn’t be thinking in terms of various gods and deciding which god is the best option. You should be thinking in terms of God and non-God gods. Whether they are nothings, mere dead idols, or demonic entities; they are not God.

People become enslaved to them. It blinds them and binds them. It sets them in darkness and chains them to superstition and sinfulness. And whatever they know or think they know; they do not know God.

All they know are non-God gods.