Biblical Concept: Idols and Believers
Idolatry Background:
1 Corinthians 10:19-22; Idolatry,
Gentiles, and demons. Also Revelation
9:20. (From the beginning of time,
demons have been empowering idols.
Idolatry can
work.) Also Leviticus 17:7, Deuteronomy 32:17, and
Psalm 106:36-38.
Jeremiah 51:17-18; stupid mankind and
idols. Also Ecclesiastes 9:3 and Romans
1:23, 25. (Subjectivity and rebellion at
God consciousness.)
Hosea 4:11-14; Israel, idols, sacrifices,
and temple prostitutes. (Sexuality was a
significant part of pagan religion.)
Also 1 Kings 14:24.
Idolatry and Spiritual Life Applications:
Colossians 3:5; “Therefore consider the
members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil
desire, and greed, which amounts to
idolatry.”
The last part of this verse is: kai. th.n pleonexi,an( h[tij
evsti.n eivdwlolatri,a and word for word is: “and the greed
which is idolatry.”
“Greed” = pleonexi,an
from pleonekte,w; ple,on
= more, evkte,w from e’;cw
= “I have” = literally: “I have more.”
(Be alert for the details of life can
become a spiritual distraction, even an idol,
to the believer.)
1 Samuel 15:23, The prophet Samuel told
King Saul that “insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.” “Insubordination” in the Hebrew (rc;P')
literally means “to
press upon.” Note how Saul pushed against God’s word in
15:23b and Samuel’s robe in 15:27b.
(“Press” against spiritual things and you will get
“pressed” back.)
1 Corinthians 5:11; believer, immoral,
covetous (pleonekte,w), idolater, reviler, drunkard, or
swindler. Compare 6:9-12 (covetous = pleonekte,w),
Galatians 5:19-
21, Ephesians 5:5-8 (covetous
= pleonekte,w), Colossians 3:5-11 (covetous = pleonekte,w),
and 1 Peter 4:1-4. (Stop acting like an
unbeliever with
various idol-lusts.)
1 Corinthians 10:14-22; believers, flee
idolatry, Gentiles, and demons. Also 10:27-29,
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, and 1 John 5:21.
1 Corinthians 8:4; in ultimate spiritual
reality, no idols, only the God of the Bible.
1 Corinthians 8:7-13; new weak believers,
idols, temples, and eating. Compare Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25.
1 Kings 11:1-8; Solomon, unbelieving
wives, and idols.
Zephaniah 1:4-5; Judah, Baal, idolatrous
priests, and mixed belief.
Acts 7:41-43; Israel, idols, and the
mixed multitude. Also see Exodus 12:38, Numbers
11:4, and Nehemiah 13:1-3.