εἰδωλολατρεία

worship or service of an image

Definition

Eidōlolatreia refers to the worship or service of idols, specifically the veneration of physical images representing false gods. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes the sin of idolatry, which is not merely the worship of statues but the devotion of one's heart to anything that replaces the one true God. Paul uses it to warn against participating in pagan sacrifices (1 Corinthians 10:14) and lists it among the 'works of the flesh' that are contrary to the Spirit (Galatians 5:20). In Colossians 3:5, he equates greed with idolatry, showing it can involve placing any created thing above the Creator.

Biblical Usage

This word appears four times, always in ethical exhortations against pagan practices. Paul employs it in three letters: 1 Corinthians 10:14 urges believers to flee from idolatry in a context of pagan temple feasts; Galatians 5:20 categorizes it as a destructive work of the flesh; Colossians 3:5 identifies covetousness as a form of idolatry. Peter also uses it in 1 Peter 4:3, listing idolatry among the former sinful behaviors of Gentile converts. The usage is uniformly negative, highlighting idolatry as a fundamental breach of loyalty to God.

Etymology

The word is a compound from εἰκών (eikōn, 'image' or 'likeness') and λατρεία (latreia, 'service' or 'worship'). Literally, it means 'image-service' or 'worship of an image.' It directly describes the act of serving physical idols, a central concern in Jewish and early Christian polemics against pagan religions.

Semantic Range

Idolatry is a core theological concept, representing the primal sin of exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images (Romans 1:23). Understanding eidōlolatreia enriches Bible reading by revealing that idolatry is not just an ancient ritual but a heart condition—giving ultimate allegiance to anything other than God, whether a physical statue, wealth, or desire (Colossians 3:5). It underscores the biblical call to exclusive worship and the seriousness with which God views divided loyalty.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, idol worship was ubiquitous, involving temple rituals, sacrifices, and public festivals. For Jews and Christians, who believed in an invisible God, this practice was abhorrent and synonymous with false religion. The New Testament's condemnation of eidōlolatreia would have been a radical, counter-cultural stance, marking a clear boundary between the church and the surrounding pagan society.

εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolatrēs, G1496) — an idolater, the person who commits idolatry; εἰδωλόθυτον (eidōlothuton, G1494) — food sacrificed to idols, the object related to idol worship.

Word Details

Scripture References