Tangible Idolatry
Part One

Scriptures predict a time when humankind will return to a worldview similar to that of the first century in which temples to Greek gods and Caesar-worship were the state religions. I propose that this “transition” to idolatry an myth is described in scriptures and that the fulfillment of the Bible’s prophecy is much more literal than allegorical as commonly believed.  Myth, to a first century Christian, meant much more than a children’s story and was linked to a worldview in opposition to all that Christianity stood for; the promise of eternal life through the Jesus Christ, our God who became man and died on our behalf for the forgiveness of sins.

The Greek word used for “myths” is muthos; it means a story or fable and in the Greek culture it meant the stories of their gods as they came down and interacted with humankind. These were the gods that they celebrated and worshipped in their temples in the first century.  These were the gods the idols in the temples symbolized. Ephesus, for example, was famous for its temple to Diana who was also known as Artemis. People from all over the known world made pilgrimages to Ephesus to worship the idolatrous statue of Diana that was said to have descended directly from heaven. The city’s commerce and trade depended upon this worship. The threat to this commerce described for us in Acts 19 was behind the intense persecution of the church by the merchants of Ephesus.  Acts 19 relates:

²⁴For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; ²⁵these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. ²⁶“You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. ²⁷“Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”  ²⁸And when they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

The conflict between Paul and his gospel and the gods of Greek myths could not be clearer; it was a war of “truths.” One “truth” was Paul’s claim of resurrection from the dead of a man who promised eternal life – a resurrection that happened in cold sober history in front of credible witnesses.  The other “truth” was a statue of Artemis that they claimed fell from heaven and represented a great goddess – a Greek myth. That conflict resulted in severe persecution of the church that he founded in Ephesus and nearly cost Paul his life.

Another example of the centrality of myths and their opposition to the gospel is found in Acts 14 which describes Paul and Barnabas coming to Lystra where they continued to preach the gospel.

⁸At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. ⁹This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, ¹⁰said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. ¹¹When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” ¹²And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. ¹⁴But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out ¹⁵and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. ¹⁶“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; ¹⁷and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.¹⁹But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

Paul, the preacher of the gospel, heals a lame man. Ironically, the miracle is attributed to Zeus and though Paul energetically preaches the gospel in opposition to these mythical gods, he ends up being stoned for healing somebody. The gospel did not allow for synergism with these gods but called them “vain things”, the same term scriptures use for idols. Paul preached the message of God becoming a tangible man, dying for our sins on the cross to grant us forgiveness and an escape from the coming wrath of God. This man spoken of in Paul’s message was raised from the dead in front of witnesses as objective proof of Paul’s claim. 

This conflict between myths and the gospel was also evident in Philippi in Acts 16.

⁶It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us…But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.… ²²The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. ²³When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison.

This “spirit of divination” that Paul cast out was literally a “spirit of pythos” referring to the Pythia, the priestess oracle of Delphi. Delphi was the temple of Apollo of Greek myth. The priestess there was the famous oracle of Dephi, known for predicting the future. Paul was publicly opposing the cult of Apollo when he cast out this spirit in the name of Jesus. His actions led to his being physically beaten and cast into prison by the authorities. Here again we see the gospel in conflict with Greek myth.

Paul again speaks of myths in 1Timothy 4.  Here he contrasts the truth of the gospel with myths.

⁶In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. ⁷But have nothing to do with worldly fables-muthos fit only for old women.

We are told to avoid worldly myths and instead cling to the words of faith that will save us. This conflict with myths Paul mentions in his first letter continues so that Paul mentioned it again in his second letter to Timothy. In chapter 4 he states:

³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, ⁴and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

While it sounds strange to our ears, Paul prophesies of a time of apostasy coming in which people will turn from the truth and again embrace myths. I believe that we see this time described in Revelation. I believe that this is literal and not allegorical; people really will return to believing the myths that Paul’s gospel condemned.

Revelation begins with Jesus reviewing seven churches and expressing His approval or disapproval. He condemns two of these churches for succumbing to idolatry, eating meat sacrificed to idols and so participating in worshipping the idols of Greek myths. In connection with this he mentions two bad people, Balaam and Jezebel; both encourage immorality and idolatry.

 ¹⁴‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. ¹⁵‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

²⁰‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. ²¹‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. ²²‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. ²³‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

Much as been said about the coming immorality of the end times and how it is even now upon us. This is easy for us to believe. However, in our Western culture we do not yet see “idolatry” as being manifest, especially with tangible idols. Scriptures make clear, however, that at the end there will be only two categories of people on earth; those who worship the Beast’s idol and receive his mark, and those who refuse to do so—the ones marked by God. Tangible idolatry will be embraced by the entire world; a world religion will call adherents to bow to a physical object that supernaturally speaks—and they will do it.

Conclusion:

Greek myths were a serious threat to the gospel in the early church. Paul prophesies that in the last days people will turn away from listening to truth and turn to myths. The worldview of Greek myths linked idol worship and commerce in a seamless union.  Goods such as meat were offered to the temples in idol worship, the resale of which helped to fund the system. In addition, entire industries flourished that provided pious people with books and items for their personal devotion. Paul battled these myths as he opposed mythical gods and the idolatrous worship of their temples. The gospel calls all these gods “vain things” and opposes myths with the news of the one true God and the Son sent from heaven becoming a man to bring us salvation proven by His resurrection.  The church, as it expanded from being simply Jewish to embracing Gentiles, imposed few rules – but they banned idolatry and the support of idolatrous worship.  This theme of the New Testament has not lost its authority. The apostle John ends his first epistle with, “Little children, guard yourself from idols.” Ironically, we find that this is exactly where the entire world is heading; returning to myths and idolatry.

By K. Jentoft Click here for bio and archived articles