There are some big differences between the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, but at least one thing is consistent across both. And that is the condemnation of worshipping false gods and following false prophets.
God says to His people, “I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me” (Isaiah 43:10). For this reason, every other claimed deity is a lie, and God will not share His glory with false gods.
There are serious consequences for worshipping false gods and listening to the false prophets that proclaim their names. Read on to see what the Bible says about these matters.
Old Testament False Gods
Various false gods are mentioned in the Old Testament, and they are always shown to be false or worthless compared to the biblical God. An example occurs in the famous story of Moses and the ten plagues on Egypt.
Many are familiar with this story, but what they may not know was that the plagues were a specific attack on the false gods of Egypt.
For example, some interpreters see God turning the Nile to blood as an attack on Isis, the god of the Nile. The plague of darkness is an attack on Re, the sun god. And the death of the firstborn children is an attack on Min, the fertility god, and an attack on the notion that Pharaoh’s firstborn son was a god.
Another old testament false god is Beelzebub. The name translates to “lord of the flies,” and the pagan deity was worshipped by the Philistines in the city of Ekron. In the first chapter of 2 Kings, Israel’s King Ahaziah commits a grave sin by inquiring of Beelzebub, and God punishes him by killing him in his sleep.
Beelzebub is referenced in the New Testament as “the ruler of demons” (Mark 3:22), which is why the name is often attributed to satan. Click to read more about Beelzebub.
False Prophets
Worshipping false gods is condemned in the bible, as are the false prophets who proclaim their names. The risk of false prophets leading people astray is why there are guidelines to test a prophet in the Bible.
One test is in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. If a prophet came from among the Israelites and their foretelling came true and they encouraged God’s people to follow other gods, the people were to ignore that prophet. Moreover, the false prophet was to be put to death for rebellion and for trying to lead God’s people astray.
New Testament On False Gods And Prophets
While Old Testament stoning laws aren’t in place today, the commands to ignore false prophets and not worship false gods still apply today in the Christian faith. This is clearly seen in several New Testament Bible verses about false gods and false prophets. Some of those verses include:
- For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24)
- Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14)
- Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21)
- Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6)
- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
More On The Bible
Now you have a deeper understanding of what the bible has to say about false gods and false prophets. If you’d like to learn more, look at some of our posts on the Bible and Bible studies in the Education category.
