What is Idolatry?
In this section of his first letter to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul has been addressing idolatry.
I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
For the context of what Paul is about to say about baptism, communion and communion and other feasts take a look beginning at 1 Corinthians 8.
- INSTRUCTION CONCERNING FREEDOM IN CHRIST
- ILLUSTRATION CONCERNING OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST
And now in 1 Corinthians 10 the Apostles warns Christians to avoid the IDOLATRY that CORRUPTS or compromises OUR FREEDOM in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:14 NIV
So just what is IDOLATRY?
Let’s start with: WHAT IS AN IDOL? (Seems simple enough.)
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. – Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8 LSB
But what about this explanation of idolatry given by Samuel to Israel’s first King Saul?
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king.”
Although Saul plead for mercy, the LORD had already judged Saul.
Idolatry of your past
WE remember the golden calf, right?

And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” – Exodus 32:4b ESV
The Apostle Paul is about to issue a warning of yet another type of idolatry from the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt.
1 Corinthians 10:
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized [baptizō] into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 NIV
Baptism
What is baptism?
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- of John’s baptism, that purification rite by which men on confessing their sins were bound to spiritual reformation, obtained the pardon of their past sins and became qualified for the benefits of the Messiah’s kingdom soon to be set up.
- of Christian baptism; a rite of immersion in water as commanded by Christ, by which one after confessing his sins and professing his faith in Christ, having been born again by the Holy Spirit unto a new life, identifies publicly with the fellowship of Christ and the church.
So what is Paul saying here about the Hebrews’ crossing through the sea?
It was a baptism of sorts of those Hebrews who continued to follow Moses.
And how was that also a type of communion?
- They all ate the same spiritual food.
- and drank the same spiritual drink
for they drank from the , and that rock was Christ.
The Apostle’s warning
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written:
“The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”
Exodus 32:6 [quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:7 NIV]
We must not indulge in sexual immorality [porneuō] as some of them did,
1 Corinthians 10:8 NIV
and twenty-three thousand [23,000] fell in a single day.
Remember that Paul has just compared 'the spiritual rock that accompanied them' with Christ.
Let us not test Christ as some of them did
- and were killed by snakes.
And do not grumble as some of them did
- —and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.
No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
‘flee from idolatry’
Paul presents religious implications and consequences of our own tendency towards idolatry rooted in self rather than our sacrifice of obedience to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I am speaking as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I am saying.
flee from idolatry [εἰδωλολατρία] eidōlolatria –
Pronunciation – i-do-lol-at-ri’-ah
Sounds similar to adultery, doesn't it?
In practice idolatry is adultery against the Lord God and our Saviour Christ Jesus!
Idolatry – N.T. definition
- worship of false gods
a 21st c. C.E. question:
Are Hindu gods false? Buddha? Moroni? Smith? Mohammed? Mary? Dead Saints of the Church? A Pope, Earth or Heaven? A philosophy or practice of the past?
- idolatry – formal sacrificial feats held in honour of false gods
- of avarice, as a worship of Mammon
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Gospel of Matthew 6:24 KJV a caution of our Lord Jesus Christ
- in the plural, the vices springing from idolatry and peculiar to it
- Source: Blue Letter Bible
NEXT:
a CONTEMPORY look at Communion
Some 21st c. CE Christian saints will balk at this, but communion has become a stumbling block between the Orthodox, Roman and Protestant divisions (denominations) of Christ.
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