The NT world included many religions which promoted the worship of idols. Idolatry was thus of continuing importance to NT writers, especially Paul.
Idolatry in the Gentile world
Acts 17:16 See also Acts 14:11–13, Acts 17:22–23, Acts 19:24; 1 Corinthians 8:5; Galatians 4:8
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
Criticism of idolatry
Idolatry leads to other sinful behaviour
Romans 1:24 Verses 22 and 24–25 show the link between idolatry and immoral conduct.
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
Idolatry is an offence against the doctrine of creation
Romans 1:20 See also Acts 17:24–29
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Idols are futile and degrading
Romans 1:22–23 See also 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Corinthians 10:19, 1 Corinthians 12:2
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.
Idolatrous worship of human beings
Acts 12:22 See also Luke 20:24–25 Jesus Christ opposes the hypocrisy which objected to Roman coinage as idolatrous on the grounds that the emperor's head infringed the Ten Commandments; Acts 28:6
And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”
Demonic powers are involved with idolatry
1 Corinthians 10:20 See also Revelation 9:20, Revelation 13:4
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
Food sacrificed to idols
Acts 15:20 See also Romans 14:2–3, Romans 14:6; 1 Corinthians 8:4–13, 1 Corinthians 10:14–31
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
Encounters with idolatrous practice
Acts 19:28 See also Acts 14:11–18, Acts 17:18–31
When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Spiritual idolatry
1 John 5:21 “idols” here may well refer to a wide range of God-substitutes.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
The temptations of Jesus Christ present three main kinds of spiritual idolatry
Possessions
Matthew 4:3 parallel Luke 4:3 See also Matthew 6:24 parallel Luke 16:13; Luke 18:23; Philippians 3:19; Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:10
The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Prestige and self-esteem
Matthew 4:6 parallel Luke 4:9 See also Luke 3:8, Luke 10:29, Luke 18:11–12, Luke 18:21; Romans 2:19
“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
Power
Matthew 4:8–9 parallel Luke 4:6–7 See also Luke 9:54–55, Luke 23:39; John 18:10–11, John 19:10; Philippians 2:6; James 4:6, James 4:10
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.