Chapter 13
On the error of idolatry. That the idolaters themselves, seeking the Creator in created things, if they were willing, could find Him with His help.
13:1 For all men by nature were vain, in whom there was ignorance of God, and who were unable from the visible good things to know him who is, nor by attending to the works did they recognize the craftsman;
RABANUS. For all men by nature were vain, in whom there was ignorance of God . And if every living man is altogether vain, how much more vain are those who do not acknowledge their Creator. But all men are vain in whom there is no knowledge of God, that is, the fear and reverence of God. Therefore it is said through Job: Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding (Job 28:28). For he departs from evil who withdraws from the worship of idols; he fears God who keeps His commandments. For the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; a good understanding have all they that do His commandments (Ps. 111:10). and who were unable from the visible good things to know him who is . For from good works they could have known the good craftsman, who truly is, because He is always unchallengeable, who alone has immortality, and dwells in inaccessible light; who is always the same, and whose years never fail: who is eternal and omnipotent, without beginning and without end, always remaining in Himself, according to His will governs and directs all things; therefore, the vanity of men is most vain, who worship creatures instead of the Creator. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
13:2 but either fire or wind or swift air or the circle of stars or violent water or the luminaries of heaven, the rulers of the world, they supposed to be gods. 13:3 If, delighted by their beauty, they thought these to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them;
RABANUS. For some worshipped fire as a divine power, which they called Vulcan; others worshipped the ether or air, which they named Jupiter or Juno; others worshipped excessive water, which they called Neptune; others the circle of stars, who distributed the positions and courses of the stars according to the various shapes of animals; others venerated the sun as God, which they called Phoebus or Apollo; others the moon, which they used to call Diana. For, deceived by such error, they attributed the power of the almighty God to their false inventions, as a certain pagan poet concluded in three verses, saying: “So many and such images did God place in the heavens, and through the dark shadows scattered, He commanded the bright lights to give clarity to the devastating night.” But if it is not possible for the stars to be gods, then neither can the sun nor the moon be gods, since they differ from the lights of the stars not in kind, but in size. But if these are not gods, then neither is the sky, in which all these are contained. In the same way, if the earth which we tread, which we cultivate and till for sustenance, is not a god, then neither will the fields nor the mountains be gods; if these are not gods, then the whole earth cannot be considered a god. Likewise, if the water which serves living beings for drinking or washing is not a god, then neither are the springs from which water flows. If the springs are not gods, then neither are the rivers which are gathered from the springs. If the rivers also are not gods, then the sea, which is made up of rivers, cannot be considered a god. But if neither the sky, nor the earth, nor the sea, which are parts of the world, can be gods, then neither is the whole world a god, which the same Stoics claim to be both living and wise, and therefore God, in which they have been so inconsistent that nothing has been said by them which has not also been overturned by themselves. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
13:4 but if, astonished at their power and activity, let them understand from them how much more powerful is he who made them. 13:5 For from the greatness and beauty of created things their maker is correspondingly perceived.
RABANUS. It would have been fitting that the most beautiful and splendid Creator be recognized through beautiful creatures, but they became vain in their thoughts and chose to serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Therefore, they are refuted not only by the truth but also by their own words; for just as a house, made for the purpose of dwelling, feels nothing of itself and is subject to the master who made or inhabits it, so the world, feeling nothing of itself, is subject to God the Maker, who made it for His own use. Therefore, the sinner is at fault before the foolish for two reasons: first, because they prefer the elements, that is, the works of God, to God Himself; then, because they worship images of the elements themselves, fashioned in human form, for they make images of the sun and moon in the manner of humans, likewise of fire and earth and sea, which they call Vulcan, Vesta, and Neptune. Such is the desire of men for images that they are even more attracted to those which are rare; they delight, of course, in gold and gems and ivory, the beauty and brilliance of these dazzle their eyes, nor do they consider any place sacred unless these things have shone there. Therefore, under the hoax of gods, greed and desire are worshipped; for they believe that the gods love whatever they themselves desire, whatever it is for which thefts, murders, and robberies are daily committed, and for which wars overturn peoples and cities throughout the world. Therefore, they consecrate to the gods their spoils and plunder, whom, indeed, they must admit to be weak and devoid of the highest virtue, if they are subject to desires: for why should we think them heavenly, if they desire something from the earth? Or blessed, if they need anything? Or incorruptible, if they take pleasure in those things in the desire for which human greed is rightly condemned? [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
AUGUSTINE. That God is a certain eternal life, unchangeable, intelligible, understanding, wise, making others wise, even some philosophers of this age have seen. They have indeed seen a fixed, stable, unchanging truth, where all the reasons for all created things are found, but they saw it from afar; they saw it, but while in error; and therefore, to that great, indescribable, and beatifying possession, they did not find the way by which one might arrive. For since they too saw (as much as can be seen by a human) the Creator through the creation, the Maker through the thing made, the Fashioner of the world through the world, the Apostle Paul is a witness, whom Christians ought surely to believe. For he says, when speaking of such people: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. These, as you recognize, are the words of the Apostle Paul. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Did he say they do not hold the truth? Rather: they hold the truth in unrighteousness. What they hold is good; but where they hold it is evil. They hold the truth in unrighteousness. But it might be asked: How do those ungodly ones hold the truth? Did God speak to any of them? Did they receive the law, as the people of Israel did through Moses? Whence then do they hold the truth, even in unrighteousness? Listen to what follows, and it is shown. Because what is known of God, he says, is manifest in them; for God has shown it to them. Did he show it to those to whom he did not give the law? Hear how he showed it. For his invisible things, being understood by the things that are made, are clearly seen. Question the world, the beauty of the sky, the brightness and arrangement of the stars, the sun sufficient for the day, the moon the comfort of the night; question the earth, fruitful with herbs and trees, full of animals, adorned with humans; question the sea, full of so many and such kinds of creatures that swim; question the air, enlivened by so many birds; question all things, and see if by their own sense they do not answer you: God made us. These things even noble philosophers sought, and from the art they recognized the artist. What then? Why is the wrath of God revealed against that ungodliness? Because they hold the truth in unrighteousness? Let him come, let him show how. For he has already said how they knew. His invisible things, that is, of God, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; even his eternal power and divinity; so that they are without excuse. Because, when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor gave thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. These are the words of the Apostle, not mine: And their foolish heart was darkened; for, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. What they found by curiosity, they lost by pride. Professing themselves to be wise, that is, attributing to themselves the gift of God, they became fools. The words, I say, are the Apostle's: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Show, prove their foolishness. Show, Apostle, and just as you showed us how they could come to the knowledge of God, because his invisible things, being understood by the things that are made, are clearly seen; so now show how, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Listen: Because, he says, they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of corruptible man, and of birds, and of four-footed beasts, and of creeping things. For the pagans made for themselves gods in the forms of these animals. You found God, and you worship an idol. You found the truth, and you hold that very truth in unrighteousness. And what you knew through the works of God, you lose through the works of man. You considered everything; you gathered the order of heaven, earth, sea, and all the elements; but you do not wish to consider this, that the world is the work of God, the idol is the work of the craftsman. If the craftsman, as he gave the idol its shape, also gave it a heart, the craftsman would be worshipped by the idol itself. [Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 141.1-3] 354-430AD
13:6 Yet even so there is but slight blame for these, for they too perhaps go astray while seeking God and desiring to find him; 13:7 for as they live among his works they search diligently and are persuaded by what they see, because the things seen are beautiful. 13:8 But again, even they are not to be excused; 13:9 for if they were able to know so much that they could infer the age, how quickly did they not find its Lord?
RABANUS. Paul the Apostle, writing to the Romans in his Epistle, as we have already shown above, expressed the likeness of this place, saying: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness, because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God has revealed it to them. For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and divinity, so that they are without excuse (Rom. 1:18-20). The knowledge of God is revealed from the structure of the world. For God, who is by nature invisible, can also be known as visible, for a work was made by him which, by its visibility, reveals the maker, so that through the certain, the uncertain can be known; so that by what is impossible for others, he who made this work might be believed to be the God of all; so that they are without excuse: because they could not be ignorant of his existence and his working for their benefit, for it is clear to all that he has ordained those things which are produced for human use in the course of the year; but when they had known him, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks, but became vain in their imaginations, claiming to be wise, they became fools (Rom. 1:21-22). For they consider themselves wise because they think they are investigating physical principles, examining the course of the stars and the qualities of the elements, but despising the Lord of these things, they are therefore fools. Since these things are praiseworthy, how much more so is their creator? Yet, having suffered the shame of neglecting God, they often use a miserable excuse, saying that through these things one can go to God, just as one reaches the king through companions. Come now, is anyone so senseless or so forgetful of his own salvation as to give the honor of the king to a companion, when, if anyone is found even to discuss such a thing, he is rightly condemned for treason? And these people do not consider themselves guilty who prefer the honor of God's name to the creature, and, leaving the Lord, worship fellow servants, as if there were something more that could be preserved for God! For indeed, it is through the king that one goes to tribunes or companions, because the king is, after all, a man, and does not know to whom he should entrust the state; but to God, whom nothing escapes, for he knows the merits of all, there is no need for an intercessor to obtain favor, but only a devoted mind. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
He mocks the error of idolatry in manufactured things.
13:10 But wretched too are their hopes among the dead, they who called gods the works of human hands, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and likenesses of animals, or useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.
RABANUS. They therefore come to the gods, not so much for the sake of religion, which can have no place in things ill-prepared and perishable, as to feast their eyes on gold, to gaze at the polish of refined marble or ivory, to handle with greedy contemplation the garments distinguished by little stones and colors, or cups adorned with shining gems; and the more decorative and beautiful the temples and statues are, the more majesty they are believed to possess. Therefore, their religion is nothing other than what their desire admires. We have often said that silver and gold can be understood as speech and thought, which, since they are given by God to humans so that they may either speak or think of God and praise their Creator, they misuse this gift in the imitation of idols, according to what is written: I gave them silver and gold, but they made Baal from my silver and gold (Hosea 2:8). Therefore, when someone, terrified by the fear of the Lord, first hides idols in the cave of his heart and, not daring to bring forth what he has wrongly fashioned, conceals them in the depths of the earth, the next step is to cast away what was previously engraved and not allow it to remain in himself, according to that saying of Isaiah: On that day, a man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats. And they will enter into the clefts of the rocks and into the caves of the stones from the face of the terror of the Lord and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth (Isa. 2:20-21). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
13:11 And if some woodcutter, having chopped a flexible plant suitable for children, easily stripped off all its bark and, skillfully fashioning it, neatly made it into a useful vessel for service in life, 13:12 and used the waste from the work for the preparation of food, he was satisfied; 13:13 but from that same useless waste, a crooked piece of wood grown together with knots, taking it, he carved it carefully in his leisure and shaped it by the skill of understanding, and fashioned it into the image of a man 13:14 or made it like some cheap animal, coloring it red with vermilion and darkening its kind with paint, and covering every blemish in it with paint 13:15 and making for it a dwelling worthy of it, he set it in a wall, securing it with iron. 13:16 So that it might not fall, he took thought for it in advance, knowing that it is unable to help itself; for it is an image and needs help. 13:17 And while praying about his possessions and his marriage and his children, he is not ashamed to speak to a lifeless thing, and for health he calls upon what is weak, 13:18 for life he appeals to the dead, for aid he implores what is most inexperienced, for a journey what cannot even use its feet, 13:19 and for gain and labor and success of hands he asks of the most inert thing with his hands.
RABANUS. This wisdom was brought forth to insult idols and idolaters, so that such makers and worshippers might understand how wicked and how close to eternal death it is to abandon the one omnipotent God and Creator of all things, and to worship various creations as divinity in contempt of God. Therefore, through the prophet, the Lord spoke long ago to His people about His own veneration and the falsity of idols: I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him call and declare, and set in order for me since I established the ancient people, and let him announce to them the things to come. Do not fear, nor be troubled; from then on I have made you hear, and I have announced the future: you are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me, or a maker whom I do not know? All makers of idols are nothing, and their most beloved things will not profit them: they themselves are their witnesses, because they do not see nor understand, so that they may be confused. Who has formed a god, or cast a graven image that is of no use? Behold, all his associates shall be confused; for they are craftsmen, and they gather from all, all shall stand and tremble and be confounded together. The ironworker works with a file in the coals, and with hammers he shapes it, and works with the strength of his arm; he will hunger and grow weak, he will not drink water and will faint. The woodworker stretches a line and shapes it with a plane; he makes it with a square, and turns it with a compass: and he makes the image of a man, as a beautiful person dwelling in a house. He cuts down cedars, takes holm oak and oak which stood among the trees of the forest; he plants a pine which the rain nourished, and it becomes fuel for men; he takes some of it and is warmed, and kindles it and bakes bread; but from the rest he makes a god, and worships it; he makes a graven image, and bows down before it. He burns half of it in the fire, and with the half he eats meat; he cooks stew and is satisfied, and is warmed, and says: Aha, I am warmed, I have seen the fire. But the rest of it he makes into a god, and a graven image for himself; he bows down before it, and worships it, and prays saying: Deliver me, for you are my god. They did not know nor understand; for their eyes are blinded so that they may not see, nor understand with their heart. Nor do they consider in their mind, nor know, nor feel, so as to say: I burned half of it in the fire, and baked bread on its coals, cooked meat and ate, and from the rest shall I make an idol? Shall I bow down before a block of wood? Part of it is ashes: a foolish heart has worshipped it, and has not delivered his soul, nor said: Perhaps there is a lie in my right hand (Isa. 44:6-20)? The sense of this prophecy’s narrative is as follows: For when it says: I am the first and the last, it is the same as what is elsewhere read as spoken from divine majesty: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Rev. 21:6). For He does not say He is alone, but that besides His power and wisdom there is no external God, condemning the opinion of many gods and their images: Who, He says, is like me? Let him call things that are not as if they are, and explain the order of my creation by which I have freed all things with reason, since I made man upon the earth, and not only do I will, but I also seek knowledge of the future. Therefore you, Israel, whose king and redeemer I am, do not fear images, which you learned to be nothing on Mount Sinai. Is perhaps another creator whom I do not know, or besides this is there another world which shows the power of an unknown God? Nor are only the things made, but also those who make them considered as nothing: and when the time of vengeance comes, the works of their hands will by no means be able to deliver them, which blind and insensible things confound their makers. For who can believe that a god is formed by a file, drill, and hammer, or that images are cast in coals, or that by a line, plane, and compass they suddenly arise as gods, especially when the poverty of the craftsman’s art is shown by hunger and thirst: for a wooden statue is made expressing the human form, and the more beautiful it is, the more it is thought to be an imposing god, and it is placed in a temple and enclosed in an eternal prison, which grew for a long time in the forests, and according to the variety of trees was a cedar, holm oak, oak tree, or pine, and in a wondrous manner its segments and shavings are thrown into the fire to warm the maker of the god and cook various stews; but the other part is shaped into a god so that, when the work is completed, its maker worships it and implores help from his own work, nor does he understand or consider, indeed neither flesh nor mind sees with eyes, that it cannot be a god whose part has been consumed by fire, nor can divine majesty be made by the hand of man, and the prophetic word is more fully woven about the mockery of idols, which are easy to understand and do not desire a patchwork or even extra exposition. On which Flaccus also writes in satire, mocking the images of the pagans. “Once I was a fig tree trunk, a useless piece of wood, When a carpenter, unsure whether to make a bench or a Priapus, Preferred to make a god. Therefore I am a god, the greatest fear of thieves and birds.” But whatever has been said about idols can also be applied to the leaders of heresies, who construct and venerate images of their doctrines with cunning hearts, knowing that what they have made is a simulation; nor is their own error sufficient for them unless they have deceived the simple from prayer, and those who think that godliness is a means of gain, and who devour widows' houses, abusing the ignorance of the common people. In this way, with dialectical skill, as with a well-turned axe, file, and plane, they shape their god, and hammer him out, and make golden him with the charm of rhetorical speech, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
AUGUSTINE. [Verse 17] The gods of gold, of wood, are as regards their costliness unequal; but as to "having eyes, and seeing not," they are equal. See to what sort of guardians learned men have entrusted Rome, to those "who have eyes, and see not." Or if the were able to preserve Rome, why did they first perish them- selves? The say; "Rome perished at the same time. "Nevertheless they perished. "No," they say, "they did not perish themselves, but their statues." Well, how then could they keep your houses, who were not able to keep their own statues? Alexandria once lost such gods as these. Constantinople some time since, ever since it was made a grand city, for it was made so by a Christian Emperor, lost its false gods; and yet it has increased, and still increases, and remains. And remain it will, as long as God pleases. For we do not to this city either promise an eternal duration because we say this. Carthage remains now in its possession of the Name of Christ, yet once on a time its goddess Caelestis was overthrown; because celestial she was not, but terrestrial. And that which they say is not true, that immediately on losing her gods Rome has been taken and ruined. It is not true at all; their images were overthrown before; and even so were the Goths with Rhadagaisus conquered. [Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 105.12-13] 354-430AD