Paul is discussing the practice of eating meat that had been offered to idols. When animals were sacrificed as an offering, part of the meat was given back to the worshipper to hold a feast.
During this point in history people truly believed in demons. These spirits were intermediate between the gods and men. Greeks believed that demons were in every stream, every tree, every mountain. For the Jew there were the shedim. Evil spirits who haunted empty houses, who lurked in the crumbs on the floor, the oil in the vessels, the water that they drank.
Paul apparently believed in these demons. He believed that idol worshipping brought man not into contact with a god, but with these malignant demons.
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