Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, statues are often associated with idolatry and the worship of false gods, which is strictly prohibited in the Scriptures. The Bible frequently warns against the creation and veneration of statues or images that are intended to represent deities other than the one true God, Yahweh.
Old Testament ReferencesThe prohibition against idolatry is clearly articulated in the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20:4-5 states, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me."
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly warned against the influence of surrounding nations and their idolatrous practices.
Leviticus 26:1 commands, "You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or a sacred pillar, or place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God."
The narrative of the golden calf in
Exodus 32 is a poignant example of the Israelites' struggle with idolatry. While Moses was on Mount Sinai, the people fashioned a golden calf and worshiped it, leading to God's anger and Moses' intercession on their behalf.
Prophetic WarningsThe prophets frequently condemned the worship of idols and the making of statues.
Isaiah 44:9-10 declares, "Those who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?"
Jeremiah also speaks against the futility of idol worship, emphasizing the lifelessness of these statues.
Jeremiah 10:3-5 states, "For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the issue of idolatry continues to be addressed, though the focus shifts more towards the spiritual implications of idol worship. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, warns against idolatry as a work of the flesh and a barrier to inheriting the kingdom of God. In
1 Corinthians 10:14 , Paul advises, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."
Paul's encounter in Athens, as recorded in
Acts 17, highlights the prevalence of statues and idols in the Greco-Roman world. He observes the city's numerous idols and uses the opportunity to proclaim the truth of the living God, contrasting Him with the lifeless statues.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, the biblical injunctions against statues and idols underscore the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth, as emphasized in
John 4:24 : "God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth." The creation and worship of statues detract from the worship due to God alone and can lead to spiritual adultery, as the heart is drawn away from the Creator to the created.
In summary, while statues in themselves are not inherently evil, their use in worship contexts is consistently condemned in Scripture due to the potential for idolatry and the misdirection of worship that belongs solely to God.
Library
Homilies on theStatues.
... INDEXES OF SUBJECTS. HOMILIES ON THESTATUES. Abel, beloved of God, yet
slain, [466]342; more blessed in his death than Cain, [467...
St. Chrysostom: the Homilies on theStatues to the People of...
... St. Chrysostom: the Homilies on thestatues to the people of antioch. the oxford
translation and notes, revised by rev. wrw stephens, ma,....
Ridicule of theStatues Erected by the Greeks.
... Chapter XXXIV."Ridicule of theStatues Erected by the Greeks. Worthy of
very great honour, certainly, was the tyrant Bhalaris, who...
Argument: Recapitulation Doubtless Here is a Source of Error...
... Chapter XXVII."Argument: Recapitulation Doubtless Here is a Source of Error:
Demons Lurk Under theStatues and Images... Chapter...
At this Time, by Command of Constantine, theStatues of Maximian...
... Chap. XLII. At this time, by command of Constantine, thestatues of Maximian
Herculius were thrown down? At this time, by command...
But in Regard to Pictures andStatues, and Other Works of this...
... Book 2 Chapter 39. But in regard to pictures andstatues, and other works
of this kind? 39. But in regard to pictures andstatues...
Exaction of Tribute in Antioch, and Demolition of theStatues of...
... Book VII. Chapter XXIII."Exaction of Tribute in Antioch, and Demolition of theStatues
of the Emperor. Embassy headed by Flavian the Chief Priest....
Why we do not in the Trinity Speak of one Person, and Three...
... Just as if threestatues were made of the same gold, we should say threestatues
one gold, yet should neither call the gold genus, and thestatues species; nor...
Celsus Then Proceeds to Say that "We Shrink from Raising Altars...
... Celsus then proceeds to say that "we shrink from raising altars,statues, and temples;
and this," he thinks, "has been agreed upon among us as the badge or...
The Demons Allure Men to the Worship of Images.
... That, moreover, those who exert the power are not the same as those to whom the
statues are erected, very strong evidence is afforded by Troas and Parium....
Thesaurus
Statues (7 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Statues (7 Occurrences).
... (DBY). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall
demolish their altars, shatter their
statues, and hew down their Asherahs.
...Shatter (26 Occurrences)
... 23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their
deeds; but thou shalt utterly destroy them, and utterly shatter theirstatues....
Diana (5 Occurrences)
... Greek. Her images and forms of worship remained more Asiatic than Greek
Her earlieststatues were figures crudely carved in wood....
Asherahs (23 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Asherahs (23 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish
their altars, shatter theirstatues, and hew down their Asherahs. (DBY)....
Artemis (5 Occurrences)
... Greek. Her images and forms of worship remained more Asiatic than Greek
Her earlieststatues were figures crudely carved in wood....
Asherah (40 Occurrences)
... Asherah (40 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter
theirstatues, and hew down their Asherahs. (Root in DBY NIV)....
Areopagus (3 Occurrences)
... No city has ever seen such a forest ofstatues as studded the market-place, the
streets and the sides and summit of the Acropolis of Athens....
Statue (15 Occurrences)
Stature (22 Occurrences)
Babel (3 Occurrences)
... circuit. This also had representations of hunting scenes and bronzestatues
of Ninus, Semiramis and Jupiter-Belus (Bel-Merodach)....
Resources
How should Christians view statues of Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgWhy does Moses have horns in some ancient statues / sculptures? | GotQuestions.orgDo Catholics worship idols / practice idolatry? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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