εἰδωλολάτρης

a worshipper of an image

Definition

The word εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolatrēs) specifically denotes a person who worships idols or participates in idolatrous practices. In the New Testament, it consistently refers to those who engage in the worship of physical images representing false gods, a practice strictly forbidden in both Jewish and Christian teaching. The term is used in ethical lists to describe a category of sinner excluded from God's kingdom, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and Ephesians 5:5. In Revelation 21:8 and 22:15, idolaters are explicitly grouped among those condemned to the second death or excluded from the New Jerusalem.

Biblical Usage

This noun appears seven times, primarily in Paul's letters and Revelation. Paul uses it in Corinth to define serious moral boundaries for the church community, instructing believers not to associate with anyone who bears the name 'brother' if they are an idolater (1 Corinthians 5:11). He also warns believers to flee idolatry by recalling Israel's failure (1 Corinthians 10:7). In Ephesians 5:5, it describes those who have no inheritance in Christ's kingdom. Revelation uses it in two final, stark lists describing the fate of the wicked outside of God's redeemed community (Revelation 21:8, 22:15).

Etymology

The word is a compound noun from two Greek roots: εἴδωλον (eidōlon, G1497), meaning 'image' or 'idol,' and λάτρης (latrēs), meaning 'a hired servant' or 'worshipper.' Thus, it literally means 'an idol-servant' or 'idol-worshipper.' The related verb εἰδωλολατρεύω (eidōlolatreuō, G1497) means 'to serve or worship idols.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it defines a fundamental breach of the first commandment (Exodus 20:3-5). Idolatry represents the ultimate misplacement of worship, giving to a created thing the devotion owed only to the Creator. In the New Testament, being an 'idolater' is not merely a ritual error but a defining characteristic of a life opposed to God, with eternal consequences. Understanding this Greek term highlights the seriousness with which the biblical authors viewed any form of devotion that rivals God, enriching our reading of passages on holiness, community discipline, and final judgment.

In the Greco-Roman world, idol worship was ubiquitous, embedded in social, political, and family life. Temples, statues, and sacrifices to various gods were commonplace. For early Christians, many of whom were converts from paganism, the term 'idolater' described their former way of life and the constant cultural pressure they faced. It was not an abstract religious concept but a concrete description of participating in public festivals, family rituals, or trade guild meals dedicated to idols. This context makes the New Testament's stark warnings against idolatry a call to radical social and religious separation.

εἰδωλολατρεία (eidōlolatreia, G1495) — the practice or act of idolatry itself, rather than the person. ἀλλότριος (allotrios, G245) — 'belonging to another'; used in Ephesians 2:12 for 'strangers' to God's covenants, a broader term for spiritual alienation.

Word Details

Scripture References