Reflexive idols in the way

In English, the words "idle" and "idol" are pronounced the same.

The English word "idol" means something representing a god that is worshiped - which could be a physical entity or something abstract in the mind (or both).

One idol in the Bible is in the apocryphal book of Daniel called "Bel and the dragon" where "Bel" is an idol that is worshiped.
The English word "idle" means "not working" in some way as in "idle words".

More: Matthew 12:30-37 Pardon the idle word counting

More: The idol Bel

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. Here are the first two of the Ten Commandments or "words".

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 a more general form of an "idol" called "mammon"

More: False dilemma

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

Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. [kjv]

ισθι ευνοων τω αντιδικω σου ταχυ εως οτου ει μετ αυτου εν τη οδω μηποτε σε παραδω ο αντιδικος τω κριτη και ο κριτης τω υπηρετη και εις φυλακην βληθηση [gnt]

The modern Greek word "φυλακή" (fee-la-KEE) ≈ "watch, prison" from the ancient Greek word "φυλακή" ≈ "watch, prison" where "prison" was one way to be "watched". The Greek word is the source of the English word "prophylactic".

14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. [kjv]

τεταρτη δε φυλακη της νυκτος ηλθεν προς αυτους περιπατων επι την θαλασσαν [gnt]

Jesus wants believers to "walk" in "righteousness" in the "sea" of "humanity" and be "fishers" of "men" and not "fishers" of "pigs" or "birds".

More: Matthew 14:21-36 The all in one boat fallacy and deception

More: Matthew 5:25-26 Adversarial agreement

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]

Jesus points out two mutually exclusive choices: God vs. "mammon".

true Father God.
false Mother (harlot) god (mammon).

[without spots, opinion, glory, statement or question]

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" ≈ "think badly of, 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 inside heart.

There appear to be some logical translation issues 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]

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

More: Reflexive relationships in the Bible

The "Bel" part of the Apocryphal book "Bel and the dragon" is about how Daniel skillfully and tactfully demonstrates convincingly to his superior, the King, that he is being deceived by the religious elite who are using the required sacrifices to their own benefit.
Discuss:

Has this happened at other times through history?
Does this ever happen today?
Is Jesus and God tired of the Bar-B-Que?

Daniel sprinkled dust on the floor so that the footprints of deception became obvious in the morning. Has Jesus sprinkled dust with what he said such that the footprints of the deception become obvious at a later time?

More: The idol Bel

More: Daniel: 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]

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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