“Wherefore, my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God; but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols and from fornication and from things strangled and from blood.”
This is the first epistle that was addressed to the believers from the nations (ethnee); peoples who promptly responded to the apostolic faith but were not Hebrew or Jewish by blood. It was the agreement of the apostles to write this letter of admonition to the Gentile believers of Yehoshua, the Messiah.
The apostle Paul begun and initiated his testimony and preaching by describing this very issue. Say for example in Acts 17:21-22, 29;
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mar’s Hill and said, ‘Ye men of
I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For I passed by and
beheld your devotion, I found an altar with this inscription, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” Whom therefore you ignorantly worship him declareI unto you; for as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”
This is the prime and preliminary message in the preaching of Paul in
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you and how turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1Thess.1: 9, 10.
Peter, the apostle, also wrote this admonition;
“For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of
the Gentiles (ethnoon), when we walked in lasciviousness, lust, excess of
wine, reveling, banquetings and abominable idolatries.”1Pet.4:3
The apostle John concluded also his epistle to his Jewish crowd with a message of warning. In 1 John 5:22 KJV it says,
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” In Greek,
“Teknia phulaksate heauta apo toon eidooloon..”
The term ‘keep’ is taken from the Greek word ‘phulaksate’ which means: a) to watch b) be on guardc) to have an eye upon, lest he escape (Thayer’s defination)
The term ‘keep’ is taken from the Greek word ‘phulaksate’ which means: a) to watch b) be on guardc) to have an eye upon, lest he escape (Thayer’s defination)
With these definitions it is quite obvious that this issue on idolatry is not a light or simple one but rather the central and pivotal subject commendable of our consideration. We must understand that the apostles we’re talking about have tenaciously taught this issue from the very start of their ministry up to the final stage of their vocation. Since this issue on idolatry has been the predominant ground or basis of their apostolic message from start to end, it demands our utmost attention and concern to explore the matrix of this essential subject. We need to know why the subject on idolatry has been an integral part of their apostolic message from start to finish. In the Old Testaments, on the other hand, we can see that when Abraham was chosen and called by Yahweh, in Gen.12:1, it says;
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
He was told to leave his house and place in Ur of Chaldees because the family where he came from was idol keepers. For instance, in Gen.31:19-20, this is about Laban, the Syrian (Aramiy) or Aramaic which is part of his lineage;
“And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel had stolen the images (tiraphiym) that were her father’s. And Jacob stole away from Laban, the Syrian (Aramiy), in that he told him not that he fled.”Likewise in Joshua 24:2, 3;
“And Joshua said unto all the people, ‘Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor; and they served other gods (v.2); And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.” (v.3).
The term ‘images’ was translated from the Hebrew word ‘tiraphiym’ which means ‘household idols’, or a family idol for healing or good luck. This proved that the family or ancestors of Abraham were worshippers of idols. When Yahweh spoke to Jacob in Gen.35:1-4, KJV this is what happened;
“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau, thy brother (v.1).
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, ‘Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments (v.2); And let us arise and go up to
The Hebrew the term “elohey hannekar” is translated “strange gods” in English. The word “nekar” indicates that which is not of Yahweh, or things that did not belong to him and to his chosen people Israel; people that came from the loins and blood of Jacob; chosen people to be a witness to all the nations that Yahweh alone is worthy of adoration and worship, in the premise of what Isaiah 43:12 (KJV);
“I have declared, and have saved, and have shewed, when there was no ‘strange god’ among you, therefore you are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.” In the book of Psalm 81:9, it says;
“There shall be no strange god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any strange god.”
By this, we can clearly see that the subject on ‘strange, foreign idols’ are vital issue that requires our profound scrutiny. Joshua declared that this kind of sin will not be forgiven. Let’s read: Joshua 24:19, 20, KJV;
“And Joshua said to the people, ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgression nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.”
Since the apostles have revealed the relevance of this issue on idols, let us go back to the apostolic mandate concerning this matter which is written in Acts 15:20 KJV;
“But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”
With this advice, we can determine that what was being commanded to abstain from was not only on ‘idols’, but the ‘pollutions’. Many are quick to reply when asked about what the apostles were prohibiting and usually they will point to the ‘idols’. But what they knew about idols were the commonly graven ones like the icons of Mary, the image of sto.Nino and other saints. As far as they can enumerate these are all what they knew.
Let us analyze clearly what is being warned and instructed. “..Abstain from pollutions of idols,” that in Greek;
“Alla episteila autois tou apechesthai toon alisgeematoon toon eidooloon.”
If you examine this passage very closely you will find that what is to be avoided is not the idols alone but also the pollutions of idols. But what really does the word pollution or ‘alisgematoon’ mean? This is according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary:
‘Alisgema’ – “all the contaminating associations connected with idolatry including meats from sacrifices offered to idols.”
Hence, what was being instructed to circumvent from was not only the material and visible idols but the ‘connections’, the unseen links, with the idols. This is precisely what the apostles wanted for us to avoid. The important thing we need to know now are the ‘things’ that are connected or have some connections with the idols; and if our knowledge about their names is insufficient or limited much less the things that are connected to them. Those that I asked knew very little about the names of idols. They have not even heard of, say; Anu, Enlil, Ea, Anath, Ashera, Easter, and a lot more.
We become more limited in recognizing the pollutions or the things connected with idols. And because we are basically ignorant and uninitiated with the connecting ‘things’, we were not aware that these ‘things’ have long been residing in the houses of many believers.
Let’s find out what Isaiah 57:8 (NIV) has to say on this;
“Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it
wide, you made a pact with those whose beds you loved, and you looked on their nakedness.”
What then are the things called pollutions that connect to the idols? Every idol has its own representation, occasion and place where they are dedicated and honored. Like for instance: a) signs and symbols b) festivals (annually or monthly)c) sacred places designed and devoted to then d) designs on buildingse) terms (terminologies) that conceal names of idols.
Let us discuss first the different occasions or festivals that are connected with idols. First, we need to understand the purpose why we always observe our calendar. The term ‘calendar’ (from Latin Calendarium, from Calexe, to call, because the priests call the people to notice that it was new moon), an ecclesiastical almanac indicating the special days and seasons to be observed. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary col.Calendar)
There are two main purposes why we have a calendar:
a) to know and determine the season in which people can prepare for torrential, arid, sowing and reaping season. b) to determine the season to observe specific occasions and feasts specially dedicated to some great deities.
Now let us begin for example the New Year we observe based on our present Roman calendar.
A. New Year – January 1
In the year 46 B.C., the legendary Julius Caesar, the ruler of
In the time of Numa, he revised the calendar into 365 days and this system was adopted in approximately 450 B.C. Decemuri (December), “by inserting biennially in intercalary month of 23 days between February 24 and 25, and in the 4th year a month of 22 days between February 23 and 24. But this gave the year an average of 366 &1/4 days or one too many. To bring the calendar into correspondence with the seasons, the year 46 B.C. was lengthened so as to consist of 15 months or 445 days and the calendar known as the Julian was introduced January 1, 45 B.C., and the use of lunar year and the intercalary month was abolished, and the civil year was regulated entirely by the sun.
Caesar fixed this year to 365 and ¼ days which is correct within a few minutes. After this the ordinary year consisted of 365 days, divided into 12 months, with the names still in use (Unger’s Bible Dictionary Col.Calendar).
During this time, Julius Caesar established January 1 as the New Year and this occasion was specifically dedicated in honor of their idol named Janus from where the term January was derived.
In Latin, the word ‘Janua’ means ‘gates’, ‘doors’, ‘beginnings’, ‘entrances’, ‘exits’. The Romans called Janus, the god of beginnings having two-faced idol, one facing the past, the other facing the future. The Romans would enter his temple to consult and pray before they begun their chores and particularly before they went to war. Thus, Janus became their patron of all beginnings and to him they offered sacrifice and adoration every month of January. Therefore the month of January, from the beginning was named after the pagan Roman idol, Janus.
On the other hand, the Israelites also observed two new years, the first was the religious New Year which they observed at Nisan or Ahib 14, which was the first month of the year when they went out of
Exodus 12: 2 (KJV);
“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first
month of the year to you.”
This is the time when they observe the Passover Feast where they slaughter a lamb for each Hebrew family and the feast of the unleavened bread which they observed for seven consecutive days (Exo.12: 14. 15). This occasion would fall in ‘March-April’ in the Roman calendar.
Their second new year is what they call “civil or commercial new year” which they usually celebrate on the first day of the month Tishri which they call ‘Rosh Hashanah’, the beginning of the year. This would fall in Sept-Oct in the Roman calendar.
In other words, our heavenly Father Yahweh had given a clear mandate on the time and season and appointed the specific month and day for the Israelites in their New Year observance in stark contrast with what the Gentiles have adopted and practiced.
Why is it important for us to align with it according to the biblical mandate? The prime reason is that the mandate has originated from the Creator Yahweh while January 1 was created by Caesar for the Roman pagan god Janus. This is a pollution of idols.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was very striking;
“But I say, the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils/
demons, and not to Yahweh, and I would not that you should have fellowship
with devils / demons.” 1 Cor.10: 20.
Even if you assert that your observance of New Year is for the reason of expressing your thanksgiving to Yahweh, and you chose to do it on January 1, friend, never attempt to mix or blend the sacred and holy with the pagan idol.
B. Happy Three Kings – January 6
This is celebrated to commemorate the visitation of the wise men from the East to the nativity of the Messiah bringing with them their gifts. But where did this observance originate and who founded this practice?
In the Norse Mythology, they had what they call ‘Yuletide season’ which they observed within 12 uninterrupted days. For them this was the ‘lawless’ season wherein they would set bonfire using yule logs within 12 days beginning on December 25 until January 6 for the fame of their pagan idol named Jule (pronounced as Yul). Later, this feast on December 25 was attributed to as the birthday of Yehoshua “Jesus”, which was also the celebration of Yuletide Season and making the Happy Three Kings to culminate on January 6. This is but a pollution of idols
C. Valentine’s Day – February 14.
History:Different authorities believed Valentine’s Day began in various ways. Some trace it to an ancient Roman Festival called Lupercalia. Other experts connect the events with one or more saints of the early Christian church. Still, others link it with an old English belief that birds choose their mates on February 14. Valentine’s Day most likely came from a combination of all three of those sources- plus the belief that spring time is a season for lovers.
The ancient Romans held the festival of Lupercalia on February 15 to ensure protection from wolves. During this celebration, young men struck people with strips of animal hide. Women took the blows because they thought that whipping made them more fertile. After the Romans conquered
The early Christian church had at least two saints named Valentine. According to the story, the Roman Emperor Claudius 11 in the AD 200’s forbade young men to marry. The Emperor thought single men made better soldiers. A priest named Valentine disobeyed the Emperor’s order and secretly married a young couple.
Many stories tell that Valentine was executed on February 14 about AD 269. In AD 496, Pope Gelasius named February 14 as St. Valentine & a
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