Topical Encyclopedia Image-worship, often referred to as idolatry, is the practice of revering or worshiping images, statues, or representations as deities or as embodiments of divine power. This practice is explicitly condemned throughout the Bible, as it is seen as a violation of the exclusive worship due to the one true God.Old Testament Context The prohibition against image-worship is firmly established in the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:4-5 , God commands, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." This command underscores the importance of worshiping God alone, without the mediation of physical representations. The Israelites frequently struggled with idolatry, as seen in the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32). Despite witnessing God's mighty acts, the people crafted a calf from gold and declared, "These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" (Exodus 32:4). This act of image-worship provoked God's anger and led to severe consequences. The prophets consistently spoke against idolatry, warning of its futility and the judgment it brings. Isaiah 44:9-20 ridicules the absurdity of idol-making, emphasizing that those who fashion idols are "nothing" and their "precious things shall not profit." The prophet highlights the irony of using part of a tree for fuel and the rest to carve a god, illustrating the senselessness of worshiping created things. New Testament Context In the New Testament, the rejection of image-worship continues. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, describes the descent into idolatry as a result of humanity's rejection of God's truth. Romans 1:22-23 states, "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." This exchange is portrayed as a fundamental error leading to moral and spiritual decay. Paul's ministry often confronted idolatry directly. In Acts 17:16-34, while in Athens, Paul observed a city full of idols and addressed the Areopagus, proclaiming the "unknown god" they worshiped in ignorance as the one true God who "does not live in temples made by human hands" (Acts 17:24). Theological Implications Image-worship is fundamentally opposed to the biblical understanding of God as spirit (John 4:24) and the sole object of worship. The Bible teaches that God is transcendent and cannot be contained or represented by physical forms. The worship of images detracts from the glory and majesty of God, leading individuals away from true worship. The practice of image-worship is also seen as a form of spiritual adultery, as it involves giving the devotion and reverence due to God alone to something else. This is why idolatry is often equated with unfaithfulness in the prophetic literature, as seen in Hosea and Jeremiah. Practical Considerations For believers, the call to avoid image-worship extends beyond the literal worship of statues or icons. It includes any form of idolatry where something other than God takes the central place in one's life. Colossians 3:5 exhorts Christians to "put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry." In summary, image-worship is consistently condemned in Scripture as a violation of the first and greatest commandment to love and worship God alone. It is a practice that leads individuals away from the truth and into spiritual bondage, and it is a recurring theme of warning and admonition throughout the biblical narrative. Greek 1495. eidololatria -- image worship ... image worship. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eidololatria Phonetic Spelling: (i-do-lol-at-ri'-ah) Short Definition: worship or service of an ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1495.htm - 6k Library The Folly of Image Worship and Its Dishonour to Art. Mahometanism; Image-Worship (Ad 612-794) The Inconsistency of Image Worship. Arguments in Palliation. -1 ... Image Worship Condemned by Scripture. After the Scripture. Byzantine Empresses Theodora ii. , Theophano, Zoe, Theodora iii. The Second Commandment The Division Between East and West Second Commandment False Brethren and False Principles in the Church: Spirit and ... Thesaurus Image-worship (1 Occurrence)Image-worship. Image's, Image-worship. Imagination . Multi-Version Concordance Image-worship (1 Occurrence). 1 Peter ... /i/image-worship.htm - 6k Images (158 Occurrences) Jeroboam (96 Occurrences) Imagination (20 Occurrences) Noisy (14 Occurrences) Unholy (23 Occurrences) Licentiousness (10 Occurrences) Licence (3 Occurrences) Image's (1 Occurrence) Idolatry (14 Occurrences) Resources What is the image of the beast? | GotQuestions.orgWhy should we worship God? | GotQuestions.org Why does God demand, seek, or request that we worship Him? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Image-worship (1 Occurrence)1 Peter 4:3 Subtopics Related Terms |
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