Topical Bible: Idolatry: All Heathen Nations Given up To

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Idolatry, the worship of idols or false gods, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, particularly in the context of the nations surrounding Israel. The Scriptures consistently portray idolatry as a grievous sin that leads to spiritual and moral decay. The Berean Standard Bible provides numerous references to the idolatrous practices of heathen nations and the consequences thereof.

The Bible asserts that all heathen nations were given up to idolatry, a condition that separated them from the true worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. In Romans 1:21-23 , the Apostle Paul describes the descent into idolatry: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 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 passage highlights the willful rejection of God's revelation, leading to the worship of created things rather than the Creator. The nations, in their idolatry, exchanged the truth of God for a lie, as further emphasized in Romans 1:25 : "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen."

The Old Testament provides numerous accounts of the idolatrous practices of heathen nations. In Deuteronomy 4:19 , the Israelites are warned: "And when you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven." This warning underscores the universal tendency of nations to fall into idolatry by worshiping celestial bodies and other elements of creation.

The prophets frequently condemned the idolatry of surrounding nations. Isaiah 44:9-20 vividly describes the futility of idol-making and worship, portraying the craftsmen who fashion idols as deluded and ignorant. The passage illustrates the absurdity of worshiping objects made by human hands, emphasizing that such practices are devoid of truth and power.

Jeremiah 10:3-5 further critiques the customs of the nations: "For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good."

The New Testament continues to address the issue of idolatry among the Gentiles. In Acts 17:16 , Paul is described as being deeply distressed to see the city of Athens full of idols. His subsequent sermon on Mars Hill (Acts 17:22-31) challenges the Athenians to turn from their idolatry to the worship of the one true God, who "does not live in temples made by human hands" (Acts 17:24).

The pervasive nature of idolatry among heathen nations serves as a backdrop for the biblical narrative of redemption. The call to forsake idols and turn to the living God is a central theme in the mission to the Gentiles, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 1:9 : "For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."

Throughout Scripture, idolatry is depicted as a fundamental barrier to knowing and serving the true God. The biblical authors consistently call for the renunciation of idols and the exclusive worship of Yahweh, the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 96:5
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 1:23,25
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 12:2
You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, even as you were led.
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Library

The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
... The zeal with which the nations press towards the ... commonly cut off"), and so likewise
all idolatry, to which ... people, execute vengeance upon the heathen world. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the quotation in matt ii.htm

Fourthly; all the [Credenda, Or] Doctrines, which the True, Simple ...
... by the concurrent testimony of almost all heathen philosophers and ... must in a manner
abandon all use both ... to preserve that nation from the idolatry and worship ...
/.../xiii proposition xiii fourthly all.htm

Proposition Though the Necessity and Indispensableness of all the ...
... But notwithstanding all the heathen world had so ... more than the Creator, who is blessed
for ever: The natural consequence of which absurd idolatry, and also ...
/.../v proposition v though the.htm

Pride of Prosperity
... would lead his wives from idolatry to the ... alliances and commercial relations with
heathen nations brought him ... Wealth, with all its attendant temptations, came ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 3 pride of prosperity.htm

The Heavenly Father
... the Greeks and Romans, and many other heathen nations, they had ... the city wholly given
to idolatry, worshipping all ... mighty, more faithful God than all: and they ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxvi the heavenly father.htm

In Palestine - Jews and Gentiles in the Land' - their Mutual ...
... from being inadvertently led into idolatry; to avoid all participation in idolatry;
not to do anything which might aid the heathen in their ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in palestine -.htm

Paul at Athens
... And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to ... and with it is bound up a polemic
against idolatry. ... All heathen worship reverses the parts of God and man ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/paul at athens.htm

Remaining Books of the Old Testament.
... of the people, and their perpetual relapses into idolatry, with the ... King, to whom
God has given the heathen for his ... unto truth." Isa.42:2, 3. "All kings shall ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xi remaining books of.htm

The Chosen People
... the world in order to escape temptation to idolatry. ... them from conforming to the
practices of the heathen. ... of separation between Israel and all other nations. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 2 the chosen people.htm

Pagans.
... from thence a full forgiveness of all their sins. The magnificence and number of
the ancient heathen temples almost ... Empire, is given up to the vilest idolatry. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/pagans.htm