Reflexive idols in the way

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. [kjv]

τεκνια φυλαξατε εαυτα απο των ειδωλων [gnt]

The word used by John for "keep" is that of "watch" and, in context, can be "prison". That is, do not "imprison" yourself with "idols".

An "idol" is something that diverts one from following God. Not following God is called "fornication". Thus, "fornication" and "idols" are closely related. These are the first two of the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20:3 Do not have any other gods
Exodus 20:4 Do not make (and serve) idols

A common deception is that of a "false dilemma" whereby one creates two artificial choices to make someone thing that one must choose between the two choices provided. Creating "idols" is one way to create additional choices.

Jesus does not use the word "idol" but uses some words that imply a more general form of an "idol".

More: False dilemma

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [kjv]

ουκ εσονται σοι θεοι ετεροι πλην εμου [lxx]

The Greek word in the LXX (Septuagint) for "before" is "πλήν" ≈ "with the exception of, except for".

The Greek for "other" is that of a "different other" rather than a "similar other".

This first commandment provides a working definition of "fornication" - serving other Gods.

"ἕτερος" ≈ "other - different" and is related to the English word "asunder" as in "one or the other of two" and is the prefix of English words such as "heterosexual".
"ἄλλος" ≈ "other - similar" and is related to the English word "else".

More: Other similar differences

More: Exodus 20:1-26 The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [kjv]

ου ποιησεις σεαυτω ειδωλον ουδε παντος ομοιωμα οσα εν τω ουρανω ανω και οσα εν τη γη κατω και οσα εν τοις υδασιν υποκατω της γης [lxx]

The Greek for "graven image" is that of "idol". An "image" can be "graven" as in "inscribed" or "written" without it being an "idol". What are each of the following?

The KJV (King James Version) translates (from the Hebrew) as "likeness" the Greek word in the LXX that is "similar".
The KJV translates (from the Hebrew) as "that is in" the Greek word in the LXX that is "such as". There are three examples provided: "heaven above", "earth beneath" and "water under the earth". The "ocean" is "water" but it is not "under" the "earth".

More: Average ocean depth

More: Exodus 20:1-26 The Ten Commandments

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [kjv]

ουδεις δυναται δυσιν κυριοις δουλευειν η γαρ τον ενα μισησει και τον ετερον αγαπησει η ενος ανθεξεται και του ετερου καταφρονησει ου δυνασθε θεω δουλευειν και μαμωνα [gnt]

The historical usage of "mammon" in Hebrew is that of a confidence in one's own ability to do things (independent of God). That is a central idea of humanism. The modern Hebrew definition is that of "wealth".
The ancient Greek word "καταφρόνησις" ≈ "hold in contempt, despise". Note that this can be done without the other person knowing. False leaders, false teachers, etc., will show an outward appearance that is different from their heart on the inside.

There appear to be some logical issues in the translation of what Jesus said. Let us investigate.

More: Matthew 6:24 A wealth of logical ideas on mammon

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [kjv]

ουδεις δυναται δυσιν κυριοις δουλευειν η γαρ τον ενα μισησει και τον ετερον αγαπησει η ενος ανθεξεται και του ετερου καταφρονησει ου δυνασθε θεω δουλευειν και μαμωνα [gnt]

NIV (New International Version): No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

NLT (New Living Translation): No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

Berean Literal Bible: No one is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and he will love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon.

Does this mean that if one does not serve "money" one is serving God? Explain.

More: Matthew 6:24 A wealth of logical ideas on mammon

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The ancient Greek word "εἴδωλον" ≈ "phantom, image, idea, statue" and comes from "εἶδος" ≈ "form".

One should "worship" God - follow God,s rules, love neighbor as oneself.
Some define an "idol" as something that gets between "you" and "God". Do you really want to become a god?
An "idol" distracts one from doing what God wants.
You can be your own "idol" (reflexively). Terms include "mammon" (Hebrew word) and "self-sufficiency" (Greek philosophy word).

More: Matthew 6:24 A wealth of logical ideas on mammon

More: Philippians 4:9-11 Being content with self-sufficiency

One popular idol in OT (Old Testament) times was "Bel" in "Babylon" which is related to "Baal" and "Babel".

Other common idols in Babylon included "Nebo".

More: The idol Bel

By legend, Saint Patrick banished the snakes from Ireland, even though this absence of snakes in Ireland was noted by Solinus same 200 years earlier.

The legend hearkens back to the snakes of Pharaoh at the time of Moses and Aaron in Exodus 7:8-13.

The Celts had worshiped (images and idols of) serpents. Patrick did help drive those out of Ireland.

More: March 17: Saint Patrick's Day

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. [kjv]

τεκνια φυλαξατε εαυτα απο των ειδωλων [gnt]

1 John 5:21

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KJV: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Greek: τεκνια φυλαξατε εαυτους εαυτα απο των ειδωλων αμην

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [kjv]

νυν δε εγραψα υμιν μη συναναμιγνυσθαι εαν τις αδελφος ονομαζομενος η πορνος η πλεονεκτης η ειδωλολατρης η λοιδορος η μεθυσος η αρπαξ τω τοιουτω μηδε συνεσθιειν [gnt]

Paul uses the word "idol" many times. Many verses contain similar ideas. Only a few are covered here.

1 Corinthians 5:11

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KJV: But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Greek: νυνι νυν δε εγραψα υμιν μη συναναμιγνυσθαι εαν τις αδελφος ονομαζομενος η πορνος η πλεονεκτης η ειδωλολατρης η λοιδορος η μεθυσος η αρπαξ τω τοιουτω μηδε συνεσθιειν

Acts 7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. [kjv]

και εμοσχοποιησαν εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις και ανηγαγον θυσιαν τω ειδωλω και ευφραινοντο εν τοις εργοις των χειρων αυτων [gnt]

Acts 7:41

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KJV: And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Greek: και εμοσχοποιησαν εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις και ανηγαγον θυσιαν τω ειδωλω και ευφραινοντο εν τοις εργοις των χειρων αυτων

Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. [kjv]

αλλα επιστειλαι αυτοις του απεχεσθαι των αλισγηματων των ειδωλων και της πορνειας και πνικτου και του αιματος [gnt]

Acts 15:20

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KJV: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Greek: αλλα επιστειλαι αυτοις του απεχεσθαι απο των αλισγηματων των ειδωλων και της πορνειας και του πνικτου και του αιματος

Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. [kjv]

απεχεσθαι ειδωλοθυτων και αιματος και πνικτων και πορνειας εξ ων διατηρουντες εαυτους ευ πραξετε ερρωσθε [gnt]

Acts 15:29

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KJV: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Greek: απεχεσθαι ειδωλοθυτων και αιματος και πνικτου πνικτων και πορνειας εξ ων διατηρουντες εαυτους ευ πραξετε ερρωσθε

Romans 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? [kjv]

ο λεγων μη μοιχευειν μοιχευεις ο βδελυσσομενος τα ειδωλα ιεροσυλεις [gnt]

Romans 2:22

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KJV: Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

Greek: ο λεγων μη μοιχευειν μοιχευεις ο βδελυσσομενος τα ειδωλα ιεροσυλεις

1 Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [kjv]

ου παντως τοις πορνοις του κοσμου τουτου η τοις πλεονεκταις και αρπαξιν η ειδωλολατραις επει ωφειλετε αρα εκ του κοσμου εξελθειν [gnt]

5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [kjv]

νυν δε εγραψα υμιν μη συναναμιγνυσθαι εαν τις αδελφος ονομαζομενος η πορνος η πλεονεκτης η ειδωλολατρης η λοιδορος η μεθυσος η αρπαξ τω τοιουτω μηδε συνεσθιειν [gnt]

1 Corinthians 5:10

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KJV: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

Greek: και ου παντως τοις πορνοις του κοσμου τουτου η τοις πλεονεκταις η και αρπαξιν η ειδωλολατραις επει οφειλετε ωφειλετε αρα εκ του κοσμου εξελθειν

1 Corinthians 5:11

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KJV: But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Greek: νυνι νυν δε εγραψα υμιν μη συναναμιγνυσθαι εαν τις αδελφος ονομαζομενος η πορνος η πλεονεκτης η ειδωλολατρης η λοιδορος η μεθυσος η αρπαξ τω τοιουτω μηδε συνεσθιειν