Topical Bible: The Heathen: Idolatrous

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In biblical terminology, the term "heathen" often refers to nations or individuals who do not worship the God of Israel and are characterized by idolatry and pagan practices. The idolatrous heathen are frequently mentioned in the Bible as those who worship false gods and engage in practices contrary to the commandments given by God to His people.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous accounts of the idolatrous practices of heathen nations surrounding Israel. These practices often included the worship of carved images, celestial bodies, and various deities. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting these practices. In Deuteronomy 12:30-31 , God instructs the Israelites, "Be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.’ You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates."

The prophets frequently condemned the idolatry of the heathen and warned Israel of the consequences of following their ways. Isaiah 44:9-20 vividly describes the futility of idol-making and worship, highlighting the absurdity of creating gods from wood and stone. The prophet Jeremiah also speaks against the idolatry of the nations, stating in Jeremiah 10:3-5 , "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."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the term "heathen" is often translated as "Gentiles" or "nations," referring to those outside the Jewish faith. The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of idolatry among the Gentiles in his epistles. In Romans 1:21-23 , Paul writes, "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."

Paul's missionary journeys often brought him into contact with idolatrous cultures, and he consistently preached against idol worship, urging converts to turn to the living God. In Acts 17:22-23 , Paul addresses the Athenians at the Areopagus, saying, "Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To an unknown god. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you."

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, idolatry is seen as a fundamental rejection of God's sovereignty and a violation of the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). The idolatrous practices of the heathen are viewed as a distortion of true worship and a turning away from the Creator to the created. This is underscored in Psalm 96:5 , which states, "For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens."

The Bible consistently calls for the separation of God's people from idolatrous practices and emphasizes the need for exclusive devotion to the one true God. The idolatrous heathen serve as a cautionary example of the spiritual and moral decline that results from turning away from God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 135:15
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
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

Library

Demolition of the Idolatrous Temples at Alexandria, and the ...
... Book V. Chapter XVI."Demolition of the Idolatrous Temples at Alexandria, and the ...
issued an order at this time for the demolition of the heathen temples in ...
/.../chapter xvi demolition of the idolatrous.htm

The Variety of Idolatrous Cults Proves that they are False.
... Against the Heathen. Section 23. The variety of idolatrous cults proves
that they are false. But not only from these considerations ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 23 the variety of.htm

The Deeds of Heathen Deities, and Particularly of Zeus.
... The deeds of heathen deities, and particularly of Zeus. But of these and such like
inventions of idolatrous madness, Scripture taught us beforehand long ago ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 11 the deeds of.htm

Moses More Ancient and Credible than the Heathen Heroes.
... Chapter XL."Moses More Ancient and Credible Than the Heathen Heroes. ... of the Greek
sages to that "light shining in a dark place," ie, amid an idolatrous world ...
/.../tatian/tatians address to the greeks/chapter xl moses more ancient and.htm

Heathen Plots
... "When all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about ... The nobles
of Judah who had become entangled in idolatrous marriages, and who had held ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 55 heathen plots.htm

Preaching among the Heathen
... these works of the Almighty, the apostles led the minds of the heathen to a ... one who
"had faith to be healed." In the presence of the idolatrous assembly Paul ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 18 preaching among the.htm

Pride of Prosperity
... of idol worship. Polygamy was countenanced. Idolatrous mothers brought
their children up to observe heathen rites. In the lives ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 3 pride of prosperity.htm

The Cry of the Heathen
... Methinks, I will stand here as a heathen this morning, and I say to you as ... come and
shed your light through the dark mists of our idolatrous temples; let the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the cry of the heathen.htm

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... Chapter II."The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables About
the Birth and ... to be sure, in the form of a bull, as an idolatrous poet says ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

Foreword
... In explaining the 117th Psalm Luther says: "If all the heathen shall praise God,
he ... put away all idolatry, since God can not be praised with idolatrous lips or ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/foreword.htm