Topical Bible: Idolatry: Irrational

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Idolatry, the worship of idols or the excessive reverence for created things, is consistently portrayed in the Bible as an irrational act. This irrationality is highlighted through various scriptural passages that emphasize the futility and senselessness of worshiping anything other than the one true God.

The prophet Isaiah vividly describes the absurdity of idolatry in Isaiah 44:9-20. He illustrates how craftsmen fashion idols from the same wood they use to cook their meals, underscoring the irrationality of attributing divine power to objects made by human hands. Isaiah 44:19 states, "No one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, 'I burned half of it in the fire, and I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?'"

Jeremiah also addresses the folly of idolatry, pointing out the senselessness of worshiping lifeless objects. In Jeremiah 10:3-5 , he writes, "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 Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, further elaborates on the irrationality of idolatry. In Romans 1:21-23 , he explains how humanity, despite knowing God, chose to worship created things rather than the Creator: "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."

The irrational nature of idolatry is also evident in the account of the golden calf in Exodus 32. Despite witnessing the miraculous deliverance from Egypt and the revelation of God's power, the Israelites quickly turned to worship a calf made of gold. This act of idolatry is portrayed as a profound lapse in judgment and faith, highlighting the human tendency to seek tangible representations of the divine, even when such representations are inherently powerless.

Throughout the Bible, idolatry is not only condemned as a violation of the first commandment but is also depicted as a fundamentally irrational act. The prophets and apostles consistently remind believers of the futility of idol worship, urging them to recognize the supremacy and uniqueness of God. The irrationality of idolatry serves as a cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of turning away from the true source of life and worshiping that which is ultimately powerless and transient.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 17:29
For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by are and man's device.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 1:21-23
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Various Developments of Idolatry: Worship of the Heavenly ...
... For mixing up the rational with the irrational, and combining things unlike in ... a
convincing exposure of himself, and a proof against all idolatry, that it was ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 9 the various developments.htm

He Then Clearly and Skilfully Criticises the Doctrine of the ...
... nor four-footed beasts with those that swim, nor irrational with rational ... a hand,
upon his discourse, he sees the dangerous downfall of idolatry lying beneath ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 7 he then clearly.htm

He Then Wonderfully Displays the Eternal Life, which is Christ, to ...
... irrational animals are rational, or that the Reason must be confessed to be irrational. ...
gave an evil consent to Jehoiakim who led the way to idolatry, and were ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 2 he then wonderfully.htm

Prayers and Praise from a Pure Mind, Ceaselessly Offered, Far ...
... [3555] But without such idolatry he who ... we practice, as the turtle-dove and the pigeon
offered for sins point out that the cleansing of the irrational part of ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi prayers and praise from.htm

The Second Commandment
... 1) It is absurd and irrational; for, the ... have thrust images upon them, they chose
rather to die than deflower their virgin profession by idolatry; they refused ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 2 the second commandment.htm

The Preface to the Commandments
... (3) It is a mercy to be delivered out of idolatrous places, because idolatry
is such a silly and irrational religion. I may say, as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 3 the preface to the.htm

On Human Temptations.
... irrational, and that which is termed the irrational part is ... are manifest, which are
these, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, poisonings, [2625 ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter iv on human temptations.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book ii.
... which are these, fornication, adultery, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred ... in the case of the shepherd of irrational creatures, those who ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book 2.htm

1 Cor. x. 13
... cried out aloud and heightened the accusation, calling it idolatry; that he ... sacrifice
itself, and instead of the slaughter of irrational creatures, commanding ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxiv 1 cor x.htm

Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ...
... by the afflictions of others; and since it happens that even irrational animals
are ... be also said that these prohibitions were made in hatred of idolatry. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any reasonable.htm