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wholly given to idolatry
wholly given to idolatry
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Concise Bible Dictionary
:
The
worship
of idols—a
sin
which is mentioned as committed after
the
flood
.
There
seems to
have
been a universal giving up of the
knowledge
of the true
God
.
Paul
, speaking of men, says that when
they
knew God, they glorified
Him
not as God, they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, notwithstanding that
what
may be known of God in
nature
, His
eternal
power
and
Godhead
, was manifested to them. They degraded the worship of the true God everywhere, and
idolatry
became universal. In
this
,
man
had no excuse. Images were made like corruptible man, and
birds
, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things (
Rom. 1:20-23
20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21
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.
22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:20‑23)
). From this state
Abram
was rescued by the God of
glory
appearing to him.
Scripture
shows the
folly
of a man cutting
down
a
tree
, and burning part of it to cook his food and to warm himself, and
yet
making a god of the
rest
, and worshipping it (
Isa. 44:14-17
14
He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
16
He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. (Isaiah 44:14‑17)
); and yet
Israel
, to whom God had revealed Himself, not
only
as
Creator
but in
redemption
, adopted these
wicked
follies. There were
also
molten images and images
of
stone
.
Imaginary creatures were regarded as
gods
, and these were feared and propitiated.
Some
believed in a fetish of good and a fetish of
evil
. Others had an elaborate system of mythology, as the Greeks,
with
husbands and wives and sons and daughters of the gods and goddesses.
Man
himself was exalted by some into a god, as with the Greeks and the Romans.
In Israel at first there
might
have been the thought that the idol was only a representative of God,
just
as the
Egyptians
professed to have representations of their unseen gods. When the
golden
calf
was made
Aaron
built an
altar
before it, and said, “Tomorrow is a
feast
to
Jehovah
”; but the people said, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the
land of
Egypt
” (
Ex. 32:4-5
4
And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
5
And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord. (Exodus 32:4‑5)
). Yet they had been commanded to
make
no
graven
image
, because they saw no
similitude
when God spake to them at
Horeb
. This species of idolatry is seen further developed in the case of
Micah
, who had a
house
of gods. See MICAH.
The secret of
all
the abominations in idolatry is, that
Satan
is the grand mover of it. To Israel it was said that they were no more to
offer
sacrifices unto
demons
(
Lev. 17:7
7
And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. (Leviticus 17:7)
). They “sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto
demons
” (
Psa. 106:37
37
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, (Psalm 106:37)
). They made their
children
pass through the
fire
to
Molech
(
2 Kings 23:10
10
And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. (2 Kings 23:10)
;
Ezek. 23:37,39
37
That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. (Ezekiel 23:37)
39
For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house. (Ezekiel 23:39)
); “slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks” (
Isa. 57:5
5
Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? (Isaiah 57:5)
).
As to the sacrificing being to demons, the same thing is said of the idolatry at
Corinth
, with its
Grecian
mythology (
1 Cor. 10:20
20
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20)
). Satan being the real promoter of it all, he knows how to
lead
a
poor
unintelligent
heathen
to be satisfied with an imaginary fetish; the Greeks and Romans to be pleased with their stately statues; and the Brahmins and Hindus to pride themselves in their superior and refined mysticism. Satan has also succeeded in introducing into the professing
church
the worship of the
Virgin
Mary
and of the saints. To this must be added another species of idolatry to which Christians are
sometimes
enticed, namely, that of letting anything but
Christ
have the first
place
in the
heart
;
for
in Him God is revealed, He “is the image of the invisible God”—“He is the true God.” “
Little
children,
keep
yourselves from idols” (
1 John 5:21
21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)
).
The word
εἴδωλον
is from
εῖδος
, “that which is
seen
,” and covetousness is specially characterized as idolatry (
Col. 3:5
5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:5)
).
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Number:
2712
(
find all occurrences in KJV Bible
)
Greek:
κατείδωλος
Transliteration:
kateidolos
Phonic:
kat-i’-do-los
Meaning:
from
2596
(intensively) and
1497
; utterly idolatrous
KJV Usage:
wholly given to idolatry
Call: 1-630-543-1441
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
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