Department of Jewish Thought student, Ori Edgar, selected for UB Celebration of Student Academic Excellence

Idolatry is a concept that is native to the Bible. The prohibition on the worship of idols originates in the Bible and comes from its concerns around the worship of the one God. What is strange, then, is that the word Idolatry does not appear once in the entire Hebrew Bible. Rather, idolatry is coined in 1 Corinthians, a Pauline Epistle. The word in Greek is ειδωλολατρειας which combines the Greek words for that which is seen and worship. Using a close textual and conceptual reading of conical and non-canonical sources this project argues that idolatry is not a neutral or natural term, rather it is one that grows out of the Biblical religion and Paul’s response to it. This project aims to contribute a conceptual history of idolatry and the intellectual environment that makes it not only possible, but prohibited.

Idolatry is central to the Hebrew Bible, but the word itself never appears and is only later invented later by Paul. The prohibition on the worship of idols originates in the Bible and comes from its concerns around the worship of the one God. It is enshrined in the Ten Commandments as “You shall have no other gods besides Me,” and “You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image,” (Exodus 20:3-4). Idolatry is not a natural concept, earlier Egyptian and Mesopotamian religions did not have it, rather it is one that develops from earlier polytheistic to monolatrous, and finally to monotheistic religions. This evolution lays the groundwork for the prohibition of idolatry, not only as the prohibition of the worship of idols, but as the prohibition of the worship of other gods. As the biblical religion develops, idolatry becomes the central concern with prophets bemoaning Israel's unfaithfulness towards God. Paul, who was originally in this biblical religion, adds on to the prophetic critiques with two additions. Those are that he is steeped in the Greek intellectual milieu and that he believes in Jesus as the messiah. Paul coins the term idolatry which gives us the modern name for the concept, but does so in his own particular.

Idolatry is central to the Hebrew Bible, but the word itself never appears and is only later invented later by Paul. The prohibition on the worship of idols originates in the Bible and comes from its concerns around the worship of the one God. It is enshrined in the Ten Commandments as “You shall have no other gods besides Me,” and “You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image,” (Exodus 20:3-4). Idolatry is not a natural concept, earlier Egyptian and Mesopotamian religions did not have it, rather it is one that develops from earlier polytheistic to monolatrous, and finally to monotheistic religions. This evolution lays the groundwork for the prohibition of idolatry, not only as the prohibition of the worship of idols, but as the prohibition of the worship of other gods. As the biblical religion develops, idolatry becomes the central concern with prophets bemoaning Israel's unfaithfulness towards God. Paul, who was originally in this biblical religion, adds on to the prophetic critiques with two additions. Those are that he is steeped in the Greek intellectual milieu and that he believes in Jesus as the messiah. Paul coins the term idolatry which gives us the modern name for the concept, but does so in his own particular polemics. Paul, this project argues, writes to the gentiles (non-jewish believers in the messiah) in hopes to make the Jews jealous and entice them to follow the messiah. Idolatry, then, is not only steeped in the Biblical tradition that gave rise to the concept, but also in Paul's mission to gather support for the messiah.