Idolatry
Worship aimed at idols or creatures — the worship that belongs to God alone, misplaced
Idolatry is the worship of idols, or of any created thing put in God's place. Early Christian apologists pressed this charge against pagan cult, drawing on Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 8 through 10 and writings such as Tertullian's On Idolatry. Beyond polemic, it became a lasting category for distinguishing rightly ordered worship of God from disordered devotion directed toward creatures.
How it traveled
- On Idolatry.— · 220explains
- The Instructions of Commodianus.— · 220explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Incarnation of the WordAlexandria · 373applies
- Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373applies
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379applies
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Selections from the Letters of St. AmbroseMilan · 397explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and EphesiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- The Sacred History Of Sulpitius SeverusToulouse (Aquitaine) · 425explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Harmony of the GospelsHippo Regius · 430applies
- Reply to Faustus the ManichæanHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430applies
- On Christian DoctrineHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Morals of the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430applies
- The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates ScholasticusConstantinople (Istanbul) · 439applies
- The Ecclesiastical History of SozomenConstantinople (Istanbul) · 450explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458applies
- Selected Epistles of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext CouncilConstantinople (Istanbul) · 692applies
- Commentary on GalatiansWittenberg · 1546explains
- Book First. of the Knowledge of God the CreatorGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564applies
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · 1564explains
- A History of the Work of RedemptionNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- The great christian doctrine of original sin defendedNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Fifteen Sermons. On Various SubjectsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758applies
Key passages(20)
Man's Natural Blindness in Religion · Jonathan Edwards
Man’s natural blindness in religion, manifested by those things which appear in men’s open profession. I would now show, how it is manifest that there is a sottish and brutish blindness in the hearts
Tap to expand
Men Naturally God's Enemies · Jonathan Edwards
On what account men are enemies to God. the general reason is, That God is opposite to them in the worship of their idols. The apostacy of man summarily consists in departing from the true God, to id
Tap to expand
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
The French is “Pourceque la gloire de sa Divinite est vilipendée en une chose si sotte et lourde comme est un marmouset;”—because the glory of his Divinity is degraded into an object so silly and stup
Tap to expand
Commentary on Galatians · Martin Luther
Those who do not know God in Christ arrive at this erroneous conclusion: “I will serve God in such and such a way. I will join this or that order. I will be active in this or that charitable endeavor.
Tap to expand
The Incarnation of the Word · Athanasius of Alexandria
§55. Summary of foregoing. Cessation of pagan oracles, &c.: propagation of the faith. The true King has come forth and silenced all usurpers. This, then, after what we have so far said, it is right f
Tap to expand
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
Homily XXXVIII. Acts XVII. 16, 17 “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with
Tap to expand
A History of the Work of Redemption · Jonathan Edwards
FROM THE CALLING OF ABRAHAM TO MOSES. I proceed now to show how the work of redemption was carried on from the calling of Abraham to Moses. And, I. It pleased God now to separate that person of whom
Tap to expand
A History of the Work of Redemption · Jonathan Edwards
The ten tribes finally apostatized from the true God under Jeroboam. The kingdom of Judah was greatly corrupted, and from that time forward more generally in a corrupt state than otherwise. In Ahab’s
Tap to expand
A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 19 [XII]—The Knowledge of God Through the Creation. And then the apostle very properly turns from this point to describe with detestation those men who, light-minded and puffed up by the sin
Tap to expand
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
§7. Refutation of dualism from reason. Impossibility of two Gods. The truth as to evil is that which the Church teaches: that it originates, and resides, in the perverted choice of the darkened soul.
Tap to expand
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
For, to mention a few instances out of many to avoid prolixity, who that saw his lawless and corrupt conduct toward Semele, Leda, Alcmene, Artemis, Leto, Maia, Europe, Danae, and Antiope, or that saw
Tap to expand
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
For would that the artist would fashion the gods even without shape, so that they might not be open to so manifest an exposure of their lack of sense. For they might have cajoled the perception of sim
Tap to expand
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
§18. Heathen defence continued. (2) ‘The gods are worshipped for having invented the Arts of Life.’ But this is a human and natural, not a divine, achievement. And why, on this principle, are not all
Tap to expand
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
But as to their second and as they say profounder defence, one might reasonably add as follows. If these things are made by you, ye Greeks, not for the sake of a self-manifestation of God Himself, but
Tap to expand
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
But not only from these considerations may one appreciate their godlessness, but also from their discordant opinions about the idols themselves. For if they be gods according to their assertion and th
Tap to expand
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
§27. The refutation of popular Paganism being taken as conclusive, we come to the higher form of nature-worship. How Nature witnesses to God by the mutual dependence of all her parts, which forbid us
Tap to expand
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. There are three leading divisions in this chapter. The first contains a refutation of those who as
Tap to expand
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
3. It is true that the Lord occasionally manifested his presence by certain signs, so that he was said to be seen face to face; but all the signs he ever employed were in apt accordance with the schem
Tap to expand
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
9. After such a figment is formed, adoration forthwith ensues: for when once men imagined that they beheld God in images, they also worshipped him as being there. At length their eyes and minds becomi
Tap to expand
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
12. I am not, however, so superstitious as to think that all visible representations of every kind are unlawful. But as sculpture and painting are gifts of God, what I insist for is, that both shall b
Tap to expand