EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US

What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? By COGwriter Many who profess Christianity attend church services that have a variety of supposedly Christian idols and icons in the buildings. Many who profess Christ tend to wear or even revere crosses as a symbol for Christians. Does any of this come from the Bible? What did the early Church teach about these type of things? What about the second commandment? Is the prohibition against idolatry actually the 'second' of the ten commandments? This article will provide some Old Testament and New Testament quotes related to idols and icons. It will also show writings from early (mainly 2nd century) church writers which will help demonstrate what the early church really understood about this. Additionally, it will provide some information on when idols and icons were considered acceptable for the majority who profess Christ. A related sermon is available: The Second Commandment, Idols, and Icons. God's Position on

Answer: Let’s start with a look at Psalm 82, the psalm that Jesus quotes in John 10:34. The Hebrew word translated “gods” in Psalm 82:6 is Elohim. It usually refers to the one true God, but it does have other uses. Psalm 82:1 says, “God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the gods.” It is clear from the next three verses that the word “gods” refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule. Calling a human magistrate a “god” indicates three things: 1) he has authority over other human beings, 2) the power he wields as a civil authority is to be feared, and 3) he derives his power and authority from God Himself, who is pictured as judging the whole earth in verse 8. This use of the word “gods” to refer to humans is rare, but it is found elsewhere in the Old Testament. For example, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1). This simply means that Moses, as the messenger of

Our father among the saints, John Maximovitch, was a diocesan bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) who served widely from China to France to the United States. Countless miracles have been attributed to this holy bishop, both during his lifetime and since his repose. When the Lord had finished the Mystical Supper with His disciples and given them His Instructions, He went with them to the Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39). On the way He continued His final teachings, after which He addressed the Heavenly Father with a prayer for His disciples and those who would believe their word (John 17). On crossing the stream of the Cedron, the Lord and His disciples went into the garden of Gethsemane, where He had been accustomed to gather with them earlier (Matt. 26:36; Mark 14:32; John 18:1-2). Here He left His disciples, except for Peter, James and John, telling them to sit down for a time while He prayed. Then He Himself with Peter, James and Jo