IDOLS AND IDOLATRY --- PART 2

In The New Testament:

The fullest discussion in the New Testament on idolatry [eidololatreia] and the idol worshiper [eidololatres] is found in Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians. Earlier, Paul had told the Corinthians not to associate with those who called themselves believers but were still idol worshipers -- 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. After that letter the Corinthians must have asked Paul for more information on this matter. Thus, in this epistle Paul provides a response to their question. The [idol worshiper] is mentioned in -- 5:10-11, 6:9 and -- 10:7 and idolatry is spoken of in -- 10:14. The terms idolatry and idol worshiper are related to two other expressions. Idol [eidolon] is found in -- 1 Corinthians 8:4; 10:19; 12:2. Food sacrificed to idols [eidolothutos] is found in -- 8:1, 4, 7; 10:19. Paul condemns the idolatry that involved believer’s offering sacrifices to idols and then partaking of the food that had been sacrificed to them. The participants are called idol worshipers because their involvement in idolatrous sacrifices was seen as having fellowship with demons. Paul prohibited the eating of sacrificial food at the popular temples in the presence of idol-demons. As such, he shared the same view about idols as most Jews in his day. For the Jews, idols and heathen deities were identical. -- See 1 Thessalonians 1:9, where Paul contrasts idols with the living and true YHVH. To Paul, idols in and of themselves were nothing -- 1 Corinthians 8:4.

Behind the idol however, was a demon -- 10:20. The eating of sacrificial food at the meals in pagan temples was condemned by Paul. It was understood that the participants thereby became united to demons -- see 1 Corinthians 10:19-21. However, Paul had no problem with those who purchased food that had been left over from these events and that was later sold in the marketplace. In his judgment, if they ate it at home, they were not participating in idolatry. They could eat this food with a good conscience; unless of course, in doing so they would be the means of destroying a weaker believer. For the sake of such believers, one should abstain. This was a matter of conscience -- 10:25-29. But going to pagan festivities and eating meals offered to idols was not permitted in any form. The Corinthians had participated in these meals regularly before they became believers. Apparently, they had continued to do so after their conversion. In Corinth such meals were the regular practice both at national festivals and private celebrations. Paul considered the gods to be demons. They were thought to be present at these events because the sacrifices were made to them. Thus, to participate in these events was to join oneself to demons and thereby become an idol worshiper. The ancient Israelites had been carried away into idolatry by their pagan neighbours on several occasions. They were tempted to participate in these pagan celebrations -- for example, Numbers 25; compare Exodus 32:6. The festivities involved all sorts of immoral behaviours. In -- 1 Corinthians 10, Paul referred to this apostasy of the Israelites and used it as a negative example. Because the Israelites became involved in pagan festivities, they were carried away into idolatry and sexual immorality. These acts brought YHVH’s wrath and destruction. Paul mentions idolatry in his other epistles. But the fullest discussion is found in -- 1 Corinthians. Nonetheless, Paul speaks out against actual idolatry and what we might call figurative idolatry [i.e., idolatry in the sense of desiring something above YHVH]. In -- Romans 1:18-32 sexual immorality and other sins are ultimately traced to idolatry.

The Gentiles, who should have known that YHVH existed, as shown in creation and conscience, abandoned the immortal, invisible YHVH in exchange for mortal, visible images [i.e., idols]. Because of this abandonment, YHVH gave them over to do the filthy things their hearts desired -- 1:24. Thus, idolatry is included in Paul’s list of what he calls [the works of the flesh] -- see Galatians 5:19-20. And idol worshipers are included in the catalogue of all those evil people who will not inherit the Kingdom of YHVH -- see 1 Corinthians 6:9. In -- Ephesians 5:5 Paul again includes idolaters among those who will not inherit the Kingdom of YHVH. However, such idolaters are not just those who go to pagan temples and worship idols. They are those who are greedy. The best translation reads: -- No fornicator or impure person or greedy person, which is the same as an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Moshiach and of YHVH. The point seems to be that the greedy person who makes his desires his god is much the same as an idolater. Thus, greed and idolatry are made synonymous. The parallel passage, -- Colossians 3:5, makes this clear. It specifically says greed is idolatry.