{But I say that} (all' hoti). The verb ph(886d)i (I say)
must be repeated from verse  19  before hoti. {To demons, and
not to God} (daimoniois kai ou the(9369)). Referring to LXX text of
 De 32:17 . It is probable that by ou the(9369) Paul means "to a
no-god" as also in  De 32:21  ep' ouk ethnei (by a no-people).
This is Paul's reply to the heathen who claimed that they
worshipped the gods represented by the images and not the mere
wood or stone or metal idols. The word daimonia is an adjective
daimonios from daim(936e), an inferior deity, and with same idea
originally, once in this sense in N.T. ( Ac 17:18 ). Elsewhere in
N.T. it has the notion of evil spirits as here, those spiritual
forces of wickedness ( Eph 6:12 ) that are under the control of
Satan. The word daimonia, so common in the Gospels, occurs in
Paul's writings only here and  1Ti 4:1 . Demonology is a deep and
dark subject here pictured by Paul as the explanation of
heathenism which is a departure from God ( Ro 1:19-23 ) and a
substitute for the worship of God. It is a terrible indictment
which is justified by the licentious worship associated with
paganism then and now.