Acts 17:29 – If God is beyond images and idols, how do Old Testament instructions for sacred objects not contradict Paul’s teaching here?

Acts 17:29 and the Nature of True Worship

Acts 17:29 states: “Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone—an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.” At first glance, some may question whether God’s Old Testament instructions for constructing sacred objects, such as the Ark of the Covenant or the bronze serpent, contradict Paul’s teaching. The following entry explores why they do not conflict, examining their contexts, purposes, and the enduring theological principles behind them.

1. Context of Paul’s Teaching in Acts 17:29

Paul’s words in Athens addressed a city filled with idolatrous statues (Acts 17:16). The people of Athens had created shrines, temples, and altars to a pantheon of deities—often attributing divine power to physical representations of gold, silver, or stone (Acts 17:22–23). Paul proclaimed that God, who made the world and everything in it, dwells above creation, transcending human-made images. This teaching aimed to correct the concept that God could be contained or manifested solely in an idol crafted by human hands.

2. Overview of Old Testament Sacred Objects

In the Old Testament, several sacred objects were divinely ordained:

• Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10–22). This was a gold-covered wooden chest housing the tablets of the Law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a jar of manna (Hebrews 9:4).

• Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:8–9). Set on a pole for the healing of those bitten by serpents in the wilderness.

• Cherubim in the Tabernacle and Temple (Exodus 25:18–22; 1 Kings 6:23–28). Sculpted figures overshadowing the mercy seat and adorning the Holy Place.

• Other Elements (Exodus 25–30). The lampstand (menorah), altars of incense and burnt offering, and priestly garments were all designed with specific craftsmanship and detail.

These objects were never presented as idols to be worshiped in themselves. Instead, they served as conduits for worshiping the true God or as reminders of covenant faithfulness. Even the Bronze Serpent was meant to focus Israel’s gaze upon God’s power to heal, not on the physical image itself. When later generations began to worship the serpent as an idol, King Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4).

3. Purpose of Old Testament Sacred Objects

1. Representation of His Presence, Not His Being

The Ark of the Covenant signified God’s covenant promises. God declared that He would meet with Moses “from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the Ark” (Exodus 25:22). However, the Israelites never equated God Himself with the Ark; it pointed to God’s throne, but they understood He was sovereign above it (1 Chronicles 29:11–13). God cannot be reduced to a wooden box or any human representation.

2. Instructional and Symbolic Function

Like the intricate details of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26), these elements taught Israel about God’s holiness, mercy, and the necessary atonement for sin. The bronze serpent represented the means of God’s healing in a moment of crisis, foreshadowing that deliverance comes from the Lord (Numbers 21:8–9). Scriptural examples show that these items were an avenue to reflect on God’s character and covenant rather than objects of autonomous worship.

3. Deterrent Against Idolatry

While the nations surrounding Israel made idols to embody or appease their gods, Israel was specifically prohibited from worshiping images (Exodus 20:4–5). The objects they used in worship were at God’s command, with clear instructions not to ascribe to them any divine power. Instead, these items highlighted Israel’s role as a holy people set apart for the one true God.

4. Why the Instructions Are Not Contradictory

1. Paul’s Emphasis on the Transcendence of God

In Acts 17, Paul’s main argument is that human-made idols cannot capture God’s essence. This resonates with Old Testament teaching, which consistently forbids making images of God in the likeness of created things (Deuteronomy 4:15–16). While Old Testament “sacred objects” were fashioned according to God’s instructions, none were created to be worshiped as God Himself.

2. Worship of God Versus Worship of an Idol

The biblical record clarifies that worship belongs exclusively to the Creator (Exodus 20:3–5). The Ark, bronze serpent, and other items were not meant to depict God’s essence but to serve as reminders of presence, covenant, and mercy. Contrariwise, Athenian idols and images were worshiped, with the belief that they contained or manifested the gods.

3. Temporary and Typological Nature of Old Testament Shadows

Many physical elements in the Old Testament (e.g., the tabernacle, sacrificial system) prefigured the ultimate redemptive work that would find fulfillment in Christ (Hebrews 8:5; 9:9–10). The fact that the Bronze Serpent later had to be destroyed (2 Kings 18:4) underscores that these objects could become stumbling blocks if people’s hearts shifted from God to the item itself.

5. Reinforcing Paul’s Teaching

1. Continuity with Old Testament Prohibitions

Paul’s teaching reaffirms the consistent biblical ban on idolatry. Israel’s prophets frequently reprimanded the nation for drifting toward idol worship (e.g., Isaiah 44:9–20). This harmonizes with Paul’s call to worship the Creator rather than crafted images (Romans 1:25).

2. Historical and Textual Evidence of Consistency

Archaeological discoveries confirm Israel’s unique separation from the idolatrous practices of ancient Near Eastern cultures. The Dead Sea Scrolls, for instance, contain references to the proper worship of God devoid of idolatry, aligning with the standard transmitted in the Masoretic Text. Furthermore, textual evidence shows the Hebrews’ strict adherence to God’s commands concerning objects in the Tabernacle, differentiating them from neighboring peoples who worshiped statues as gods.

3. Spiritual Focus Over Physical Symbol

Both in the era of Moses and in the era of the New Testament Church, the call is for a heart devoted to God. Sacred objects served God’s teaching purpose in the Old Testament but were never meant as an end in themselves. Paul reiterates that “God, who made the world … does not dwell in temples made by human hands” (Acts 17:24), reinforcing the Old Testament principle that God’s holiness surpasses any physical vessel.

6. Conclusion

Old Testament instructions for sacred objects do not contradict Paul’s teaching in Acts 17:29. The difference lies in the function and perception of these objects:

• They were mandated by God for specific covenantal and instructional purposes.

• They were never meant to encapsulate or limit God’s nature.

• Their role was designed to focus Israel’s worship on the one true God, pointing forward to ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Paul’s sermon at Athens stands in firm agreement with the Old Testament’s admonition against idolatry. The message consistently upheld across Scripture is that God is beyond all human fabrication. Whether through the Ark of the Covenant in the wilderness or Paul’s discourse at the Areopagus, the ultimate call remains: worship and trust belong exclusively to the God who created all things, redeemed humanity through Christ, and transcends every material representation.