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Idolatry

Worship aimed at idols or creatures — the worship that belongs to God alone, misplaced

Idolatry is the worship of idols, or of any created thing put in God's place. Early Christian apologists pressed this charge against pagan cult, drawing on Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 8 through 10 and writings such as Tertullian's On Idolatry. Beyond polemic, it became a lasting category for distinguishing rightly ordered worship of God from disordered devotion directed toward creatures.

How it traveled

  1. Exhortation to the Heathen
    Alexandria · 215
    challenges
  2. On Idolatry.
    — · 220
    explains
  3. The Instructions of Commodianus.
    — · 220
    explains
  4. The Shows, or De Spectaculis.
    — · 220
    challenges
  5. Scorpiace.
    — · 220
    explains
  6. The Church History of Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  7. The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  8. The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods
    — · 360
    applies
  9. The Incarnation of the Word
    Alexandria · 373
    applies
  10. Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.)
    Alexandria · 373
    explains
  11. Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)
    Alexandria · 373
    applies
  12. Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene Hymns
    Edessa · 373
    applies
  13. Ephraim Syrus: Three Homilies
    Edessa · 373
    applies
  14. The Letters
    Caesarea (Cappadocia) · 379
    applies
  15. The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril
    Jerusalem · 386
    explains
  16. Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen
    Nazianzus · 390
    explains
  17. Against Eunomius
    Nyssa · 395
    applies
  18. Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose
    Milan · 397
    explains
  19. Concerning Virgins
    Milan · 397
    applies
  20. Homilies on First Corinthians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    applies
  21. A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  22. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    applies
  23. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    applies
  24. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  25. The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and Ephesians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  26. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    applies
  27. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    applies
  28. Homilies on S. Ignatius and S. Babylas
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    challenges
  29. The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus
    Toulouse (Aquitaine) · 425
    explains
  30. On the Life of St. Martin
    Toulouse (Aquitaine) · 425
    applies

Key passages(20)

Man's Natural Blindness in Religion — SECTION II. From men's open profession — part 1↗explains

Man's Natural Blindness in Religion · Jonathan Edwards

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Men Naturally God's Enemies — SECTION III. Why enemies to God — part 1↗explains

Men Naturally God's Enemies · Jonathan Edwards

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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 3↗challenges

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

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Commentary on Galatians — Galatians 4 — part 6↗applies

Commentary on Galatians · Martin Luther

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The Incarnation of the Word — On the Incarnation of the Word. — Summary of foregoing. Cessation of pagan oracles, &c.: propagation of the faith. The true King has come forth and silenced all usurpers.↗challenges

The Incarnation of the Word · Athanasius of Alexandria

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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily XXXVIII on Acts xvii. 16, 17. — part 1↗explains

A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom

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A History of the Work of Redemption — PERIOD I. From the Fall to the Incarnation. — PART III. From Abraham to Moses. — part 1↗challenges

A History of the Work of Redemption · Jonathan Edwards

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A History of the Work of Redemption — PERIOD I. From the Fall to the Incarnation. — PART V. From David to the Babylonish Captivity. — part 10↗applies

A History of the Work of Redemption · Jonathan Edwards

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A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter — The Knowledge of God Through the Creation.↗applies

A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter · Augustine of Hippo

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Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 2↗explains

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 3↗challenges

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 4↗challenges

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 5↗challenges

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 6↗explains

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 7↗challenges

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 8↗challenges

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 1↗challenges

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 2↗applies

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 4↗challenges

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 5↗applies

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

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