What Early Christians Said About Pagan Gods

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

For, as they did not speak to the Gentiles in compliance with their notions, but told them with boldness that their gods were no gods, but the idols of demons;

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

For all the gods of the nations are idols of devils;

Psalms 96:5 Direct teaching

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

1 Corinthians 8:5 Direct teaching

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

1 Corinthians 8:4 Supporting witness

Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...ey trouble them through men and persecute them by the hands of others. And if they admit that these demons exist, we have won. For the true religion must be the one that understands the nature of demons, understands their craftiness, and compels them, once conquered and subdued, to yield to it. If they deny it, they will be refuted by the testimony of poets and philosophers. But if they do not deny the existence and malice of demons, what remains except for them to say that there is a difference between gods and demons? Let them then explain to us the difference between the two kinds, so that we may know what should be worshiped and what should be held in execration, and whether they agree with each other or are truly opposed to one another. If they are joined together by some necessity, how shall we distinguish them? Or how shall we join the honor and worship of each kind? But if, on the other hand, they are enemies, why is it that the demons do not fear the gods, or that the gods cannot drive away the demons? Look, someone stirred by the impulse of a demon is out of his senses, raving, and mad. Let us lead him into the temple of the excellent and mighty Jupiter, or, since Jupi

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...e the accusations made against us. Instead, driven by unreasoning passion and the influence of evil demons, you punish us without consideration or judgment. For the truth must be told: since ancient times, these evil demons, creating apparitions of themselves, defiled women, corrupted boys, and showed such terrifying sights to men that those who did not use reason to judge their actions were struck with terror. Carried away by fear and unaware that these were demons, they called them gods and gave each demon the name it chose for itself. When Socrates tried, through true reason and examination, to expose these truths and free men from the demons, the demons themselves, using men who delighted in iniquity, orchestrated his death, branding him an atheist and a profane person on the charge that "he was introducing new divinities." In our case, they show similar intent. For not only among the Greeks did reason (Logos) prevail to condemn these things through Socrates, but also among the Barbarians were they condemned by Reason (or the Word, the Logos) Himself, who took shape, became man, and was called Jesus Christ. In obedience to Him, we not only deny that those who did such things

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

And by this name gods we are not to understand the objects of heathen worship (for we know that all the gods of the heathen are demons ), but the gods mentioned by the prophets as forming an assembly, whom God judges, and to each of whom He assigns his proper work.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

and the service of demons is the service of so-called gods, for all the gods of the heathen are demons.

Methodius, Three Fragments on the Cross and Passion Supporting witness

...me involved with the visible creation so that, by overthrowing the rule of the tyrants—that is, the demons—He might deliver our souls from their terrible slavery. Because of this slavery, our whole nature, made drunk by draughts of wickedness, had become full of confusion and disorder, and could in no way return to the memory of good and useful things. Therefore it was also more easily led away to idols, since evil had completely covered it and had spread through all generations because of the change that had come over our fleshly tabernacles as a result of disobedience. This continued until Christ the Lord, by the flesh in which He lived and appeared, weakened the force of Pleasure's attacks. By these attacks, the powers of hell that were armed against us had reduced our minds to slavery. And He freed mankind from all their evils. For this purpose, the Lord Jesus both wore our flesh and became man, and by the divine arrangement was nailed to the cross. His purpose was that, by the very flesh in which the demons had proudly and falsely pretended to be gods, after they had carried our souls captive to death by deceitful tricks, by this same flesh they might be overthrown and show

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Supporting witness

...e it with that wicked ceremony, he began to seek answers by offering sacrifices to idols and to the demons that dwell in idols. They replied and said, "The widow Symphorosa, with her seven sons, wounds us day by day by calling on her God. Therefore, if she and her sons offer sacrifice, we promise to do all that you ask." Then Adrian ordered her to be seized, along with her sons, and urged them in courteous words to agree to offer sacrifice to the idols. But the blessed Symphorosa answered him, "My husband Getulius, together with his brother Amantius, when they were tribunes in your service, suffered different punishments for the name of Christ rather than agree to sacrifice to idols. And, like good athletes, they overcame your demons in death. For rather than be forced to yield, they chose to be beheaded and suffered death. That death, because it was endured for the name of Christ, did bring them temporary disgrace among the people of this earth, but everlasting honor and glory among the angels. And now, moving among them and displaying the trophies of their sufferings, they enjoy eternal life with the eternal King in heaven."

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

...ls are nothing, what harm will there be in taking part in the feast? On the other hand, if they are demons, it is certain that they too are God's creatures, and that we must believe in them, sacrifice to them according to the laws, and pray to them that they may be gracious." In response to this statement, it would be useful for us to take up and clearly explain the whole passage of the first Epistle to the Corinthians in which Paul deals with offerings to idols. From the fact that an idol is nothing in the world, the apostle draws the conclusion that it is harmful to use things offered to idols. He shows, to those who have ears to hear on such matters, that whoever takes part in things offered to idols is worse than a murderer, for he destroys his own brothers, for whom Christ died. Further, he maintains that the sacrifices are made to demons. From that he goes on to show that those who join the table of demons become associated with the demons. And he concludes that a man cannot both be a partaker of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. But since it would take a whole treatise to explain fully all that is contained on this subject in the Epistle to the Corinthians

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

...ering the Father and Maker of all things, it can be shaped by false opinions about itself. Then the demons that hover around matter, hungry for the smell of sacrifices and the blood of victims, and always ready to lead people into error, make use of these deceptive movements in the souls of the crowd. Taking hold of their thoughts, they cause empty visions to flow into the mind, as though they were coming from the idols and the statues. And when a soul, by its own power, since it is immortal, moves in agreement with reason, either foretelling the future or healing present troubles, the demons claim the credit for themselves.

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

They who draw men to idols, then, are the aforesaid demons, who are eager for the blood of the sacrifices, and lick them;

Tertullian, De Corona Direct teaching

Not as if an idol were anything, but since the things which others offer up to idols belong to demons.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

For that which is offered to idols is sacrificed to demons, and a man of God must not join the table of demons.

Deuteronomy 32:17 Supporting witness

They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals That your fathers did not fear.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...n additional meaning that shows they are not gods at all. For example, with David: "The gods of the heathen are idols of demons;" and, "You shall not follow other gods." By saying "the gods of the heathen"—while the heathen do not know the true God—and calling them "other gods," he denies their claim to be regarded as gods entirely. But regarding their true nature, he speaks of them, "for they are," he says, "the idols of demons." And Isaiah: "Let all who blaspheme God and carve useless things be ashamed; even I am witness, says God.” He removes them from the category of gods, but uses the word alone for the purpose that we may understand whom he speaks of. Jeremiah also says the same: "The gods that have not made the heavens and earth, let them perish from the earth which is under the heaven." By noting their destruction, he shows them to be no gods at all. Elijah, too, when all Israel was gathered at Mount Carmel, wishing to turn them from idolatry, says to them, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him." And again, at the offering, he addresses the idolatrous priests: "You will call upon the name of your gods, and I will call on the name o

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

...say, however, since you excel all men in understanding, "How does it happen, then, that some of the idols show power, if those to whom we set up the statues are not gods?" For it is not likely that images without life and motion can do anything by themselves unless something moves them. We are very far from denying that, in various places, cities, and nations, certain effects are brought about in the name of idols. Even so, if some have received benefit, and others, on the contrary, have suffered harm, we will not consider those to be gods who have produced the effects in either case. But I have made careful inquiry into both why you think the idols have this power, and who they are that, taking their names, produce these effects. However, in trying to show who they are that produce the effects ascribed to the idols, and that they are not gods, I must call on some witnesses from among the philosophers. First, Thales, as those who have carefully examined his opinions report, divides superior beings into God, demons, and heroes. He recognizes God as the Intelligence of the world. By demons he means beings possessed of soul. By heroes he means the separated souls of men, the good b

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...n drawn from natural subjects, which were discovered well and usefully, to support the existence of false and imaginary gods? And this led to false opinions, disorderly errors, and superstitions that were almost like those of old women. For we know the forms of the gods, and their ages, and their clothing and ornaments. We also know their family lines, and marriages, and all their relationships. Everything has been brought down to the likeness of human weakness.” What could be said more clearly or more truly? The leading man of Roman philosophy, holding the most honorable priesthood, refutes the false and imaginary gods. He testifies that their worship consists of superstitions almost like those of old women. He complains that men are caught in false opinions and disorderly errors. For his entire third book On the Nature of the Gods completely overturns and destroys all religion. What more, then, is expected from us? Can we surpass Cicero in eloquence? Certainly not. But he lacked confidence, because he did not know the truth, as he himself plainly admits in the same work. For he says that he can state more easily what is not than what is. That is, he knows that the accepted sys

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

As with David: “The gods of the heathen are idols of demons;” and, “Ye shall not follow other gods.” For in that he says “the gods of the heathen”—but the heathen are ignorant of the true God—and calls them “other gods,” he bars their claim [to be looked upon] as gods at all.

Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness

The people before Moses, unskilled, abiding without law, and ignorant of God, prayed to gods that perished, after the likenesses of which they fashioned vain idols.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

by which custom they both deemed that there were other gods, and believed that those things which God made for the use of man, as though they were endowed with perception, were to be held and worshipped as gods.

Aristides, The Apology Supporting witness

For the deities (or religion) of the Barbarians and the Greeks did not suffice for them, but they introduced some also of the nature of the animals, and said thereof that they were gods, and likewise of creeping things which are found on the dry land and in the waters.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

For these are not gods, but idols, as we have already said, the works of men's hands and unclean demons.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

and we have read that God stands in the congregation of gods, but of gods who are not worshipped by the nations, for all the gods of the nations are idols.

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

...ikely that the priests, who make it their business to recommend the idols to men's reverence, would falsely say that they were men. If Herodotus alone had said that the Egyptians spoke in their histories of the gods as of men, when he says, "What they told me concerning their religion I do not intend to repeat, except only the names of their deities, matters of very small importance," it would be fitting for us not even to believe Herodotus, as if he were a teller of fables. But since Alexander and Hermes, surnamed Trismegistus, who shares with them the claim of eternity, and countless others also declare the same thing, there is no room left even for doubt that they, though they were kings, were regarded as gods. That they were men is also testified by the most learned of the Egyptians. While they say that ether, earth, sun, and moon are gods, they regard the rest as mortal men, and the temples as their tombs. Apollodorus also says the same thing in his treatise concerning the gods. But Herodotus even calls their afflictions mysteries. "The ceremonies at the feast of Isis in the city of Busiris have already been spoken of. It is there that the whole multitude, both men and wome

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...d, and might by their own free will attach themselves to these, and so be kept from falling away to idols and demons? Is it not the case that some have for their God the God of the universe, while a second class, after these, attach themselves to the Son of God, His Christ, and a third class worship the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven? They do wander from God, it is true, but with a wandering far different from, and better than, that of those who invoke as gods the works of men's hands, silver and gold, works of human skill. Last of all are those who devote themselves to the beings which are called gods but are no gods. In the same way, some have faith in that Reason which was in the beginning and was with God and was God. So did Hosea and Isaiah and Jeremiah and others who declared that the Word of the Lord, or the Logos, had come to them. A second class are those who know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. They consider that the Word made flesh is the whole Word, and they know only Christ after the flesh. Such is the great multitude of those who are counted believers. A third class give themselves to Logoi, discourses having some part in the Logos, which t

Victorinus, On the Creation of the World Supporting witness

...For, as far as it concerns God's creation, every creature is clean. But when it has been offered to demons, it is polluted as long as it is offered to the idols. And as soon as this is done, it no longer belongs to God, but to the idol. And when this creature is taken as food, it nourishes the person who takes it for the demon, not for God, by making him a fellow with the idol, not with Christ, as the Jews also rightly do. And when the meaning of these foods is understood, and the counsel of the law is considered, and the kindness of the Gospel's grace is known, and the rigor of temperance is observed, and the pollution of things offered to idols is rejected, we who keep the rule of truth in all things ought to give thanks to God through Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord, to whom be praise, and honor, and glory, forever and ever. Amen. A letter written to Cyprian by Novatian the Roman presbyter, in the name of the Roman clergy, will be found translated as Epistle 30 in this volume.

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Direct teaching

Then, about the other complaint, that we do not pray to or believe in the same gods as the cities, that charge is extremely foolish. The very people who accuse us of atheism because we do not accept the same gods they do are not even in agreement among themselves about the gods. The Athenians have made Celeus and Metanira gods. The Lacedæmonians have made Menelaus a god, and they offer sacrifices and hold festivals for him. But the people of Ilium cannot even bear to hear his name, and they worship Hector instead. The people of Ceos worship Aristæus, thinking him to be the same as Zeus and Apollo. The Thasians worship Theagenes, a man who committed murder at the Olympic games. The Samians worship Lysander, despite all the killings and all the crimes committed by him. Alcman and Hesiod worship Medea, and the Cilicians worship Niobe. The Sicilians worship Philip the son of Butacides. The Amathusians worship Onesilus. The Carthaginians worship Hamilcar. Time would fail me if I tried to list them all. Therefore, when they disagree among themselves about their gods, why do they accuse us of not agreeing with them? Now look at the practices among the Egyptians. Are they not completely ri

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

...ayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience. Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies. Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and ac

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

These are the Roman gods. But Mars is a Thracian, and Jupiter a Cretan, and Juno either Argive or Samian or Carthaginian, and Diana of Taurus, and the mother of the gods of Ida;

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

But since we find that the ancient gods also were consecrated in the same manner after their death, therefore they are superstitious who worship many and false gods.

Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness

Chapter 23. Argument: Although the Heathens Acknowledge Their Kings to Be Mortal, Yet They Feign that They are Gods Even Against Their Own Will, Not Because of Their Belief in Their Divinity, But in Honour of the Power that They Have Exerted.

Aristides, The Apology Supporting witness

and in that some of their gods were found who were adulterers, and did murder, and were deluded, and envious, and wrathful and passionate, and parricides, and thieves, and robbers.

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

but the gods that please the multitude, and whose names are given to the images, were men, as may be learned from their history.

Aristides, The Apology Supporting witness

...Barbarians, have gone further astray than the Barbarians. Since they have introduced many imaginary gods, they have presented some of them as male and some as female. Among their gods, some were found to be adulterers, murderers, deluded, envious, angry, passionate, killers of fathers, thieves, and robbers. And some of them, they say, were crippled and limped, and some were sorcerers, and some actually went mad, and some played lyres, and some were given to roaming on the hills. Some even died, and some were struck dead by lightning, and some were made servants even to men, and some escaped by flight, and some were kidnapped by men, and some indeed were mourned and grieved over by men. And some, they say, went down to Sheol, and some were badly wounded, and some changed themselves into the form of animals to seduce mortal women, and some defiled themselves by lying with males. And some, they say, were married to their mothers and their sisters and their daughters. And they say of their gods that they committed adultery with the daughters of men, and from these there was born a certain race that also was mortal. And they say that some of the female gods argued about beauty and ap

Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness

The Athenians have set up as gods Celeus and Metanira: the Lacedæmonians Menelaus;

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness

Other objects deified by men take their rise from events, and are fashioned in bodily shape, such as a Dike, a Clotho, and Lachesis, and Atropos, and Heimarmene, and Auxo, and Thallo, which are Attic goddesses.

Tertullian, De Corona Direct teaching

...ans 10:28, how much more is it polluted by the dress, and rites, and pomp of what is offered to the gods. So the crown also is shown to be an offering to idols. For with this ceremony, and dress, and pomp, it is presented in sacrifice to idols, its originators, to whom its use is especially given over. And chiefly for this reason: that what has no place among the things of God may not be admitted into use with us as with others. Therefore the apostle cries out, "Flee idolatry," 1 Corinthians 10:14. Certainly he means idolatry whole and entire. Think about what a thicket it is, and how many thorns lie hidden in it. Nothing must be given to an idol, and so nothing must be taken from one. If it is inconsistent with faith to recline in an idol temple, what is it to appear in an idol dress? What communion have Christ and Belial? Therefore flee from it. For he commands us to keep at a distance from idolatry, to have no close dealings with it of any kind. Even an earthly serpent sucks in men from some distance with its breath. Going still further, John says, "My little children, keep yourselves from idols," 1 John 5:21. He does not now say, "from idolatry," as if from the service of it

Tertullian, Scorpiace Supporting witness

... may turn from the fierceness of His anger." Deuteronomy 13:16. He has also, from His abhorrence of idols, framed a series of curses: "Cursed be the man who makes a graven or a molten image, an abomination, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place." Deuteronomy 27:15. But in Leviticus He says: "Go not after idols, nor make for yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:4. And in other passages: "The children of Israel are my household servants; these are they whom I led forth from the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. You shall not make yourselves idols fashioned by the hand, neither rear up for yourselves a graven image. Nor shall you set up a remarkable stone in your land, to worship it: I am the Lord your God." These words indeed were first spoken by the Lord by the lips of Moses, being certainly applicable to whomsoever the Lord God of Israel may in like manner lead forth from the Egypt of a most superstitious world, and from the abode of human slavery. But from the mouth of every prophet in succession, utterances of the same God also sound forth, augmenting that same law of His by a renewal of the same commands, and in th

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

And, secondly, because we—who, out of every race of men, used to worship Bacchus the son of Semele, and Apollo the son of Latona (who in their loves with men did such things as it is shameful even to mention), and Proserpine and Venus (who were maddened with love of Adonis, and whose mysteries also you celebrate), or Æsculapius, or some one or other of those who are called gods—have now, through Jesus Christ, learned to despise these, though we be threatened with death for it, and have dedicated ourselves to the unbegotten and impossible God;

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

1. That idols are not gods, and that the elements are not to be worshipped in the place of gods.

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Supporting witness

For if the heathen believe in their gods, which are idols (“which have ears, and they hear not;

Didache, Connection to 1 Corinthians 8:4 Direct teaching

And concerning food, bear what thou art able; but against that which is sacrificed to idols be exceedingly on thy guard; for it is the service of dead gods.

Novatian, On the Jewish Meats Supporting witness

...For, as far as it concerns God's creation, every creature is clean. But when it has been offered to demons, it is polluted as long as it is offered to the idols. And as soon as this is done, it no longer belongs to God, but to the idol. And when this creature is taken as food, it nourishes the person who takes it for the demon, not for God, by making him a fellow with the idol, not with Christ, as the Jews also rightly do. And when the meaning of these meats is understood, and the counsel of the law is considered, and the kindness of the grace of the Gospel is known, and the rigor of temperance is observed, and the pollution of things offered to idols is rejected, we who keep the rule of truth in all things ought to give thanks to God through Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord, to whom be praise, and honor, and glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

We must have no communion with demons. Nor must we crown the living image of God after the manner of dead idols.

1 Corinthians 10:20 Direct teaching

No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Galatians 4:8 Supporting witness

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

Exodus 23:24 Supporting witness

Thou shalt not worship their gods, nor serve them: thou shalt not do according to their works, but shalt utterly destroy them, and break to pieces their pillars.