Bible Study 1 John 5:21

[clark thompson]

1 John 5:21

King James Version (KJV)


21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 5:21

New American Standard Bible (NASB)


21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.


New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

These are my thoughts please share yours.

Today most look at idols as stautes of budah or a hindu god or something that is not around any more. An idol does not have to be an statue it is anything we put before Christ. An idol can be ourself, our time, work, family or anything thing we put before the Lord's will and word. Today we often put to much focus on things that don't matter while this is not idolitry it can lead to idolitry. Today people often hold some other people to high standards this is dangerous of becoming idolitry.

 

[TOG]

Idolatry is, by definition, a form of worship in which prayers and adoration are directed through a statue or other physical object representing the deity being worshiped. Do you know anyone who worships or prays to the people he sees on TV (the most common thing mentioned as an example of idolatry)? Watching a lot of TV might be considered a waste of time but, unless you're actually praying to the people you see there, it's not idolatry.

The TOG
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[JLB]

Idolatry is, by definition, a form of worship in which prayers and adoration are directed through a statue or other physical object representing the deity being worshiped. Do you know anyone who worships or prays to the people he sees on TV (the most common thing mentioned as an example of idolatry)? Watching a lot of TV might be considered a waste of time but, unless you're actually praying to the people you see there, it's not idolatry.

The TOG
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Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5


As the man just said, idolizing people, especially especially certain popular teachers or Rabbis, whereby you just believe and practice everything they teach, even when goes against the word of God.

That is putting them before God.

Desiring or coveting, what the "Jones" have, so that you spend all your time making money, "keeping up the Jones", rather than serving God is idolatry.

These are just a couple of examples of covetousness that is idolatry.


JLB

 

[TOG]

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (I Sam. 15:23 KJV)
​

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, but that doesn't mean that it is witchcraft. Stubbornness is as idolatry, but that doesn't mean that it is idolatry. Comparing sins like this doesn't mean that one is the other, but that one is as serious as the other. I believe that is what is being said in Col. 3:5. I looked that verse up on Bible Gateway, and here are a few of the different renderings of that verse that I found:

• which is the same as worshiping idols. (CEV)
• is as serious a sin as idolatry (Phillips)
• which amounts to idolatry. (NASB)

God doesn't want us to be greedy or covetous, and this verse says that covetousness is as serious a sin as idolatry, but it isn't idolatry. Look at these two verses:

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (Ex. 20:4 ESV)

You shall not covet (Ex. 20:17 ESV)
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I can understand this if these sins are equally serious, but why are there two different commandments if they are the same sin?

The TOG

​

 

[JLB]

I can understand this if these sins are equally serious, but why are there two different commandments if they are the same sin?

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

This is the point I was making in the other thread about the Law.

Those that try to keep the Law, as a set of rules can not do so as the full meaning as understood by God is not comprehended.

In others words even though we see the Law that forbids Idolatry, we need to be taught by God all the things that we do that is also considered idolatry by Him.

Not just what we consider idolatry, but what He considers idolatry.

Covetousness is idolatry.

My examples explain how it is in fact idolatry.





JLB

 

[TOG]

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

That's one possible translation. I pointed out a few others. I believe, for the reasons I gave earlier, that the other translations make more sense.

The TOG
​

 

[JLB]

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

That's one possible translation. I pointed out a few others. I believe, for the reasons I gave earlier, that the other translations make more sense.

The TOG
​

From what I have seen of the other translations, and they they express what Paul is saying, they would build upon and enhance the point That Paul makes, which is;

• Covetousness is idolatry, which is the same as worshiping idols.

• Covetousness is idolatry, a sin as serious as idolatry.

• Covetousness is idolatry, which amounts to idolatry.

These ideas build upon and fortify the idea of covetousness, boiling down to being, idolatry.

... when it is all said and done covetousness is idolatry.

These expressions are the same thing as saying covetousness is idolatry.

Would we say covetousness is not idolatry?

Or, covetousness is idolatry.

Given those two choices, which one would you say expresses the thought that Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:5.


JLB

 

[TOG]

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

That's one possible translation. I pointed out a few others. I believe, for the reasons I gave earlier, that the other translations make more sense.

The TOG
​

From what I have seen of the other translations, and they they express what Paul is saying, they would build upon and enhance the point That Paul makes, which is;

• Covetousness is idolatry, which is the same as worshiping idols.

• Covetousness is idolatry, a sin as serious as idolatry.

• Covetousness is idolatry, which amounts to idolatry.

These ideas build upon and fortify the idea of covetousness, boiling down to being, idolatry.

... when it is all said and done covetousness is idolatry.

These expressions are the same thing as saying covetousness is idolatry.

Would we say covetousness is not idolatry?

Or, covetousness is idolatry.

Given those two choices, which one would you say expresses the thought that Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:5.


JLB

That's not quite how I see it. A few years ago, not far from where I live, there was a car that was illegally parked too close to an intersection. A 6 year old boy wanted to cross the street, but was unable to see whether there were any cars coming because of the illegally parked car. He walked out into the street and was immediately run over and killed. The driver never saw the boy until it was too late. This is not a hypothetical story. It's a tragic incident that really happened. Based on this, you could say that parking illegally is a very serious thing. It can lead to the death of a child. You could even say that parking illegally, at least in this case, was the same as running the boy over, as serious as running the boy over or amounted to running the boy over. But to say that parking illegally is running over a child is not true. saying that puts running over a child on the same level as a much less serious offense. Saying that greed can have serious effects, even as serious as idolatry, is one thing. But saying that greed is idolatry puts breaking the first commandment on the same level as wanting a little more money which, although it can be sinful, is a less serious offense.

That's my opinion. Others are of course free to have their own. This is not a debate forum, so I won't debate the issue.

The TOG
​

 

[JLB]

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

That's one possible translation. I pointed out a few others. I believe, for the reasons I gave earlier, that the other translations make more sense.

The TOG
​

From what I have seen of the other translations, and they they express what Paul is saying, they would build upon and enhance the point That Paul makes, which is;

• Covetousness is idolatry, which is the same as worshiping idols.

• Covetousness is idolatry, a sin as serious as idolatry.

• Covetousness is idolatry, which amounts to idolatry.

These ideas build upon and fortify the idea of covetousness, boiling down to being, idolatry.

... when it is all said and done covetousness is idolatry.

These expressions are the same thing as saying covetousness is idolatry.

Would we say covetousness is not idolatry?

Or, covetousness is idolatry.

Given those two choices, which one would you say expresses the thought that Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:5.


JLB

That's not quite how I see it. A few years ago, not far from where I live, there was a car that was illegally parked too close to an intersection. A 6 year old boy wanted to cross the street, but was unable to see whether there were any cars coming because of the illegally parked car. He walked out into the street and was immediately run over and killed. The driver never saw the boy until it was too late. This is not a hypothetical story. It's a tragic incident that really happened. Based on this, you could say that parking illegally is a very serious thing. It can lead to the death of a child. You could even say that parking illegally, at least in this case, was the same as running the boy over, as serious as running the boy over or amounted to running the boy over. But to say that parking illegally is running over a child is not true. saying that puts running over a child on the same level as a much less serious offense. Saying that greed can have serious effects, even as serious as idolatry, is one thing. But saying that greed is idolatry puts breaking the first commandment on the same level as wanting a little more money which, although it can be sinful, is a less serious offense.

That's my opinion. Others are of course free to have their own. This is not a debate forum, so I won't debate the issue.

The TOG
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How we see or perceive truth is important.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, that is not the issue here.

Do you believe, or do you perceive that Paul in teaching covetousness is not idolatry, in Colossians 3:5?



JLB