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Biblical Teachings on Idolatry and Self-Deification

Idolatry, in its strictest sense, refers to the worship of deity in a visible form, whether through images representing the true God or false divinities [3]. The biblical understanding of idolatry extends beyond mere image worship to encompass any act of giving divine honor to a created object [2]. This includes bowing down to images (Exodus 20:5), worshipping them (Isaiah 44:17), or sacrificing to them (Psalm 106:38) [1]. More broadly, idolatry involves worshipping other gods, swearing by them, walking after them, speaking in their name, looking to them, serving them, or fearing them (Deuteronomy 30:17; Psalm 81:9; Exodus 23:13; Deuteronomy 8:19; Deuteronomy 18:20; Hosea 3:1; Deuteronomy 7:4; Jeremiah 5:19; 2 Kings 17:35) [1]. Even worshipping the true God through an image is considered idolatry (Exodus 32) [1].

The origins of idolatry are described by Paul in Romans 1:21-25, where he states that humanity forsook God, leading to ignorance and moral corruption [2]. Historically, idolatry among the Israelites is first alluded to with Rachel stealing her father's teraphim (Genesis 31:19) and was prevalent during their time in Egypt [3].

Biblical texts frequently condemn idolatry as a grave sin. The Ten Commandments explicitly forbid having any other gods before the Lord and making graven images (Exodus 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 5:7-9) [1]. Charles Hodge emphasizes that idolatry, defined as having any other God than Jehovah or giving external homage to images, incurs God's displeasure and wrath [10]. The prophet Jeremiah, for instance, was told by God not to pray for the people who had engaged in idolatry, as God would not hear them in their affliction [8]. Matthew Henry notes that Isaiah's condemnation of idolaters aims to show the folly of worshipping gods that cannot help, urging them to turn to the true God [9].

Beyond the direct worship of false gods or images, the Bible expands the concept of idolatry to include certain attitudes and behaviors. Covetousness is repeatedly identified as a form of idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5) [6, 7]. John Gill, in his commentary on Galatians 5:19, notes that while some understand "idolatry" there to mean covetousness, it primarily refers to the worship of other gods or graven images [12]. However, the connection between covetousness and idolatry is strong in other passages. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown describe covetousness as "akin to idolatry" because it draws the heart away from God [15]. Cyprian, an early Church Father, also links covetousness to idolatry, citing the apostle's teaching that a covetous person "whose guilt is that of idolatry, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" [17]. He further connects "evil concupiscence, and covetousness" to the "service of idols," for which God's wrath comes [17].

The concept of "self-deification" is not explicitly named in the biblical texts in the same way "idolatry" is, but related concepts like selfishness and self-pleasing are condemned. Selfishness is presented as contrary to God's law, which commands love for one's neighbor (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; James 2:8) [4]. Christ's example, characterized by self-denial and seeking God's will rather than his own (John 4:34; Romans 15:3; Philippians 2:6-8), stands in contrast to selfishness [4, 5]. God is said to hate selfishness (Malachi 1:10) [4]. Behaviors such as being lovers of oneself, pleasing oneself, seeking one's own interests, seeking undue precedence, and living to oneself are all manifestations of selfishness (2 Timothy 3:2; Romans 15:1; 1 Corinthians 10:33; Philippians 2:21; Matthew 20:21; 2 Corinthians 5:15) [4]. These actions are inconsistent with Christian love and communion [4].

The idea of self-deification can be understood as an extreme form of selfishness, where the individual places their own desires, will, or self at the center of their worship, effectively making themselves a god. While not using the term "self-deification," the biblical emphasis on self-denial directly opposes such a posture. Self-denial is presented as a necessary aspect of following Christ (Luke 9:23-24; Luke 14:27-33) and is crucial for the spiritual warfare and triumph of saints (2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27) [5]. It involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetite, abstaining from fleshly lusts, and mortifying sinful desires (Romans 6:12; Titus 2:12; Proverbs 23:2; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2) [5].

Theological traditions have further elaborated on these concepts. Thomas Aquinas, representing scholastic Catholic thought, addressed the error of those who thought it "due and good in itself" to offer divine honor not only to God but also to other superior natures, believing them to be nearer to God [11]. Aquinas argues this is unreasonable, as not all superiors are due the same reverence [11]. This perspective underscores that worship and divine honor are due to God alone, and extending it elsewhere, even to exalted creatures, is a form of idolatry.

The Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion include a specific article "Against peril of Idolatry," indicating the historical importance of this doctrine in Protestant confessions [16]. The Babylonian Talmud, from a Jewish rabbinic perspective, discusses idolatry in terms of unwitting transgression, stating that the law for every unwitting sin is like that of idolatry, making one liable to a sin-offering for violating its prohibitions [13]. Abraham Ibn Ezra, a Jewish rationalist, interprets "sanctify themselves" in Isaiah 66:17 as referring to idolatry [14].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Idolatry — Image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Rom. 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (1:28). The forms of idolatry are, (1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc. (2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature. (3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes. In Scripture, idolatry is regarded as of heathen origin, and as being imported among the Hebrews through contact with ”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Idolatry — strictly speaking denotes the worship of deity in a visible form, whether the images to which homage is paid are symbolical representations of the true God or of the false divinities which have been made the objects of worship in his stead. I. History of idolatry among the Jews.--The first undoubted allusion to idolatry or idolatrous customs in the Bible is in the account of Rachel's stealing her father's teraphim. (Genesis 31:19) During their long residence in Egypt the Israelites defiled themselves with the idols of the land, and it was long before the ta”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covetousness — Comes from the heart -- Mr 7:22,23. Engrosses the heart -- Eze 33:31; 2Pe 2:14. Is idolatry -- Eph 5:5; Col 3:5. Is the root of all evil -- 1Ti 6:10. Is never satisfied -- Ec 5:10; Hab 2:5. Is vanity -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Is inconsistent In saints. -- Eph 5:3; Heb 13:5. Specially in ministers. -- 1Ti 3:3. Leads to Injustice and oppression. -- Pr 28:20; Mic 2:2. Foolish and hurtful lusts. -- 1Ti 6:9. Departure from the faith. -- 1Ti 6:10. Lying. -- 2Ki 5:22-25. Murder. -- Pr 1:18,19; Eze 22:12. Theft. -- Jos 7:21. Poverty. -- Pr 28:22. Misery. -- 1Ti 6:10”
  7. Colossians “Colossians 3:5 (LEB) — Therefore put to death ⌞what is earthly in you⌟: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustful passion, evil desire, and greediness, which is idolatry,”
  8. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — ON THE EXHORTATION TO MARTYRDOM. (part 3): them gods of gold. And now, if Thou forgivest them their sin, forgive it; but if not, blot me out of the book which Thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, If any one hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book."(3) Moreover, when Jeremiah besought for the people, the Lord speaks to him, saying: "And pray not thou for this people, and entreat not for them in prayer and supplication; because I will not hear in the time wherein they shall call upon me in the time of their affliction."”
  9. Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 45:20: What here is said is intended, as before, I. For the conviction of idolators, to show them their folly in worshipping gods that cannot help them, and neglecting a God that can. Let all that have escaped of the nations, not only the people of the Jews, but those of other nations that were by Cyrus released out of captivity in Babylon, let them come, and hear what is to be said against the worshipping of idols, that they may be cured of it as well as the Jews, that Babylon, which had of old been the womb of idolatry, might now become the grave of it. Let the refuge”
  10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 44: displeasure of God, and the most dreadful manifestations of his wrath, are the certain consequences of the sin of idolatry; that is, of the sin of having any other God than Jehovah, or of giving to images, to stocks and stones, the external homage due to Him who is a spirit, and who must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. The Lord, therefore, in this commandment, declares Himself to be “a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation; and showing mercy unto thousands (unto th”
  11. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Idolatry, Art. 2: Article: Whether idolatry is a sin? I answer that, There has been a twofold error in this matter. For some [*The School of Plato] have thought that to offer sacrifices and other things pertaining to latria, not only to God but also to the others aforesaid, is due and good in itself, since they held that divine honor should be paid to every superior nature, as being nearer to God. But this is unreasonable. For though we ought to revere all superiors, yet the same reverence is not due to them all:”
  12. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:19: Idolatry,.... Which some understand of covetousness, which is so called; but rather it means the worshipping of other gods, or of graven images: witchcraft; any real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to converse with familiar spirits, to gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which, as it is doing honour to Satan, detracts from the glory of God, and rightly follows idolatry; conjuration, soothsaying, necromancy, and all kind of magic are included and condemned hereby: hatred: internal hatred of any man's person, ev”
  13. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 137a.13: And the Gemara notes here too that both of them only derived it from idolatry. Rabbi Eliezer holds: The halakha of every unwitting transgression sin is like that of idolatry: Just as with regard to idolatry the Torah stated: Do not perform certain activities, and when one performs them unwittingly he is liable to bring a sin-offering, here too it is no different, and since he violated the prohibition, he is liable to bring a sin-offering.”
  14. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 66:17: That sanctify themselves, for idolatry.”
  15. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 57:17: covetousness--akin to idolatry; and, like it, having drawn off Israel's heart from God (Isa 2:7; Isa 56:11; Isa 58:3; Jer 6:13; Col 3:5). hid me-- (Isa 8:17; Isa 45:15). went on frowardly--the result of God's hiding His face (Psa 81:12; Rom 1:24, Rom 1:26).”
  16. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), 2.Against peril of Idolatry.: 2.Against peril of Idolatry.”
  17. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TO ANTONIANUS ABOUT CORNELIUS AND (part 17): crime of idolatry, according to the saying of the apostle: "For know this with understanding, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, whose guilt is that of idolatry, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."(7) And again: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; putting off fornication, uncleanness, and evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which are the service of idols: for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God."(8) For as our bodies are me”
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