Polytheism

The uniqueness of God

There is only one true God

Isaiah 45:5–6 LEB

I am Yahweh, and there is none besides me; besides me there is no god. I gird you though you do not know me, so that they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none besides me; I am Yahweh and there is none besides me.

See also Dt 32:39; Dt 6:4; Is 44:8; Is 43:10

The contrast of the true God with idols

1 Thessalonians 1:9 LEB

For they themselves report about us, what sort of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

See also 1 Co 8:4–6; 1 Ch 16:26; Ga 4:8; Is 40:25–26; Ac 17:29; Is 40:18–19

Polytheism is expressly forbidden

Warnings against worshipping idols

Exodus 20:23 LEB

You will not make alongside me gods of silver, and gods of gold you will not make for yourselves.

See also Ex 23:13; Le 17:7; Ex 20:3–5

Polytheism compromises relationship with God

2 Kings 17:35–38 LEB

Yahweh had made a covenant with them and commanded them, “You shall not fear other gods, nor shall you bow down to them, nor shall you serve them, nor shall you sacrifice to them. Rather, Yahweh, who brought you out from the land of Egypt with great strength and with an outstretched arm—him you shall fear, and to him you shall bow down, and to him you shall sacrifice. The statutes, the decisions, the law, and the commands that he wrote to you, you shall observe to do always, and you shall not fear other gods. The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, and you shall not fear other gods.

See also Je 11:10; Dt 31:16; 1 Co 10:18–22

The challenge to Israel to worship God only

Joshua 24:15 LEB

But if it is bad in your eyes to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you want to serve, whether it is the gods that your ancestors served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve Yahweh.”

See also 1 Ki 18:21; Ge 35:2–4; Dt 12:2–4

Polytheism brings God’s judgment

Ex 22:20; Dt 31:17–18; Jos 23:16; Je 11:11–13

Polytheism among Israel’s neighbours

Judges 10:6 LEB

And again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of Yahweh. They served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines; they abandoned Yahweh and did not serve him.

See also 2 Ki 1:2; 2 Ki 17:29–33; Eze 8:14; Jdg 16:23; 1 Ki 11:33; Is 46:1; Je 50:2

Polytheism among the Israelites

They were called to destroy foreign gods

Numbers 33:51–52 LEB

“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you will drive out the inhabitants of the land from your presence, and you will destroy all their idols and all the images of their molten idols, and you will demolish all their high places;

See also Ex 23:24; Dt 12:2–3; Ex 34:12–13

They were seduced by foreign gods

2 Ki 17:15–18; Je 2:11

See also Dt 32:16–17; Ho 2:13; Jdg 2:11–13; Dt 12:30; Ex 34:15–16; Nu 25:2; Ps 106:34–36; Ho 11:2

Polytheism among Israel’s kings

1 Ki 11:5–7 Solomon; 1 Ki 12:28–29 Jeroboam, king of Israel; 1 Ki 16:30–33 Ahab, king of Israel; 2 Ki 16:3–4 Ahaz, king of Judah; 2 Ki 21:3–5 Manasseh, king of Judah

Examples of reforming kings

1 Ki 15:12–13 Asa, king of Judah; 2 Ki 18:4 Hezekiah, king of Judah; 2 Ki 23:12–15 Josiah, king of Judah

The character of polytheism in the OT

The physical representation of deities

Le 26:1; 1 Ki 14:23; Is 48:5

Cult prostitution

Dt 23:17; 1 Ki 14:24

Human sacrifice

Le 18:21 to Molech; Dt 12:31; 2 Ki 3:26–27 to Chemosh; Je 19:5 to Baal; Eze 16:20–21

Self-mutilation

1 Kings 18:28–29 LEB

So they called out with a loud voice, and they cut themselves with swords and with spears as was their custom, until the blood poured out over them. It happened as noon passed, they raged until the time of the evening offering, but there was no voice, there was no answer, and no one paid attention.

Polytheism in the NT

It was widespread

Ac 17:23 The Athenians were fearful of offending a god by failing to give him attention. Any omissions were covered in the designation “UNKNOWN GOD”.

See also Ac 14:11–13; Ac 19:35; 1 Co 8:5–6

The worship of man-made idols

1 Corinthians 12:2 LEB

You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the speechless idols, however you were led.

See also Ac 17:16; Ac 19:26; Ro 1:20–23; 1 Co 10:19–20 Idols in themselves are nothing, but they represent a demonic presence which lies behind polytheistic worship.