Topical Bible: Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Mercury

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In the context of biblical idolatry, Mercury is identified with the Roman pantheon, corresponding to the Greek god Hermes. Mercury was considered the messenger of the gods, associated with commerce, communication, and eloquence. Although the name "Mercury" itself does not appear in the biblical text, the figure of Hermes is referenced in the New Testament, specifically in the Book of Acts.

Acts 14:11-12 : "When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: 'The gods have come down to us in human form!' Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker."

In this passage, the apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas are mistaken for gods by the people of Lystra. Paul is identified with Hermes (Mercury) due to his role as the primary speaker, reflecting the attributes of eloquence and communication associated with the deity. This incident highlights the prevalence of Greco-Roman religious beliefs and the tendency of people to attribute divine status to humans, a practice contrary to the monotheistic worship of the God of Israel.

The worship of Mercury, like other forms of idolatry, is condemned in Scripture. The Bible consistently warns against the worship of false gods and the creation of idols. The First Commandment explicitly states, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3), underscoring the exclusive devotion required by the God of Israel.

The apostle Paul, in his epistles, further addresses the issue of idolatry, urging believers to turn away from such practices. In 1 Corinthians 10:14 , he writes, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." This admonition reflects the early Christian community's struggle against the pervasive influence of pagan worship and the need to maintain purity in their devotion to Christ.

The incident in Lystra serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the early church in a world steeped in idolatry. It also illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel, as Paul and Barnabas redirect the people's misguided worship towards the one true God, emphasizing the futility of idols and the supremacy of the Creator.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 14:12
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Deified and Stoned
... twined round the oxen's horns, are mentioned separately? ... a vehemently earnest protest
against idolatry, and a ... of the priest of Jupiter, that idols are 'vanities ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/deified and stoned.htm

Chapter xi
... the city and the tower are mentioned separately in v.4 ... first building already appointed
to these idols; because we do not believe that idolatry had developed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xi.htm

Acts XIV
... Thessalonians, that they had "turned from idols to serve ... him the inferior place in
their idolatry, gave him ... on those occasions, is not here mentioned; but as we ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiv.htm

The Sixth Book
... games injure God, consecrated as they are to idols. ... to the spectacles, which are
by their idolatry in the ... four destructions of Tr??ves here mentioned have been ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the sixth book.htm

part i
... The Holy Scripture is the domain of Wisdom, Word and Spirit, of God in the Trinity ...
souls, God may be likened to the outer air in relation to the mercury of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm