Superstition, in a biblical context, refers to beliefs or practices that attribute supernatural or divine power to objects, rituals, or omens, often outside the framework of biblical teaching. The Bible addresses superstition by emphasizing faith in God alone and warning against practices that detract from His sovereignty.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, superstition is often linked with idolatry and pagan practices. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the customs of surrounding nations, which included superstitious rituals. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD."

The prophets frequently condemned the Israelites for turning to superstitious practices. Isaiah 2:6 criticizes the people for embracing foreign superstitions: "For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with the children of foreigners."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, superstition is addressed through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, who emphasize faith in Christ and the rejection of false beliefs. The Apostle Paul encountered superstitious practices during his missionary journeys. In Acts 17:22-23 , Paul addresses the Athenians: "Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you."

Paul's approach highlights the futility of superstitious worship and redirects focus to the one true God. Similarly, in Acts 19:19 , new believers in Ephesus renounce their superstitious practices: "A number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas."

Biblical Teaching on Superstition

The Bible consistently teaches that reliance on superstitions undermines faith in God. Superstitions often stem from fear and uncertainty, leading individuals to seek control through rituals or objects. However, Scripture calls believers to trust in God's providence and sovereignty. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

The Bible also warns against the deception inherent in superstitions. Colossians 2:8 cautions, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ."

Conclusion

While the Bible does not use the term "superstition" explicitly, it addresses the concept through its teachings on idolatry, false beliefs, and reliance on anything other than God. Believers are encouraged to place their trust solely in the Lord, rejecting practices that detract from His glory and truth.Daniel 4:9
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
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Acts 12:15
And they said to her, You are mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
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Acts 28:6
However, they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
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Mark 6:16
But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
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Matthew 14:26
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
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1. (n.) An excessive reverence for, or fear of, that which is unknown or mysterious.

2. (n.) An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion.

3. (n.) The worship of a false god or gods; false religion; religious veneration for objects.

4. (n.) Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in magic, omens, prognostics, or the like.

5. (n.) Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.

SUPERSTITION; SUPERSTITIOUS

su-per-stish'-un; su-per-stish'-us (deisidaimonia, "fearing demons"): The Biblical use of these words is limited to that of the former in Acts 25:19 the King James Version, and of the latter in Acts 17:22. In the former reference, Festus speaks of the Jews' "superstition" (the Revised Version (British and American) "religion"), thus artfully dodging an avowal of his own convictions "respecting the Hebrew faith." In Acts 17:22 the King James Version Paul tactfully refers to the Athenians as being "too superstitious" (the Revised Version (British and American) "too religious"), thus using the term correctly from both their and his point of view. They were truly too "religious" with their superstitions.

Leonard W. Doolan

1175. deisidaimonia -- a religion, superstition
... a religion, superstition. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: deisidaimonia
Phonetic Spelling: (dice-ee-dahee-mon-ee'-ah) Short Definition: religion ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1175.htm - 7k8079. semamith -- (a kind of) lizard
... spider. Probably from shamem (in the sense of poisoning); a lizard (from the
superstition of its noxiousness) -- spider. see HEBREW shamem. 8078, 8079. ...
/hebrew/8079.htm - 6k

Whether Divination is a Species of Superstition?
... OF SUPERSTITION IN DIVINATIONS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether divination is a
species of superstition? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether divination is a species.htm

Of Superstition (Two Articles)
... OF SUPERSTITION (TWO ARTICLES). In ... The former come under the head of
superstition, the latter under that of irreligion. Accordingly ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of superstition two articles .htm

Whether There are Various Species of Superstition?
... OF SUPERSTITION (TWO ARTICLES) Whether there are various species of
superstition? Objection 1: It would seem that there are not ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there are various species.htm

Whether Superstition is a vice Contrary to Religion?
... OF SUPERSTITION (TWO ARTICLES) Whether superstition is a vice contrary
to religion? Objection 1: It would seem that superstition ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether superstition is a vice.htm

Of Superstition Consisting in Undue Worship of the True God (Two ...
... OF SUPERSTITION CONSISTING IN UNDUE WORSHIP OF THE TRUE GOD (TWO ARTICLES).
We must now consider the species of superstition. We ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of superstition consisting in undue.htm

Duty and Superstition
... SERMON VII. DUTY AND SUPERSTITION. Micah vi ... dies. This is called superstition:
anxiety about what will happen to us after we die. Now ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon vii duty and superstition.htm

Of Superstition in Divinations (Eight Articles)
... OF SUPERSTITION IN DIVINATIONS (EIGHT ARTICLES). We must now consider superstition
in divinations, under which head there are eight points of inquiry: ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of superstition in divinations eight.htm

Of Superstition in Observances (Four Articles)
... OF SUPERSTITION IN OBSERVANCES (FOUR ARTICLES). We must now consider superstition
in observances, under which head there are four points of inquiry: ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of superstition in observances four.htm

Superstition of Astrologers.
... Book II. Chapter 21."Superstition of Astrologers. 32. Nor can we exclude
from this kind of superstition those who were called ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 21 superstition of astrologers.htm

Whether Idolatry is Rightly Reckoned a Species of Superstition?
... OF IDOLATRY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether idolatry is rightly reckoned a species
of superstition? Objection 1: It would seem that idolatry ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether idolatry is rightly reckoned.htm

Superstition (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SUPERSTITION; SUPERSTITIOUS. ... Leonard W. Doolan.
Multi-Version Concordance Superstition (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/superstition.htm - 8k

Superstitious (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Of or pertaining to superstition; proceeding from, or manifesting,
superstition; as, superstitious rites; superstitious observances. ...
/s/superstitious.htm - 8k

Eye (145 Occurrences)
... EVIL EYE. (ra` `ayin, "evil of eye"; ophthalmos poneros): The superstition of the
influence of the "evil eye," so widely spread over the earth, has had a mighty ...
/e/eye.htm - 54k

Evil (1503 Occurrences)
... David Roberts Dungan. EVIL EYE. (ra` `ayin, "evil of eye"; ophthalmos poneros):
The superstition of the influence of the "evil eye," so widely spread over the ...
/e/evil.htm - 47k

Nero
... of that name, was put to death as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea,
in the reign of Tiberius; but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a ...
/n/nero.htm - 41k

Divination (25 Occurrences)
... from Chaldea and Arabia into the land of Israel, and pursued their occupations
(Isaiah 8:19; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6). This superstition widely spread ...
/d/divination.htm - 45k

Exorcism
... In this direction the absurdities and cruelties of superstition have carried
men to extreme lengths. In the case of Josephus we ...
/e/exorcism.htm - 14k

Exorcist (1 Occurrence)
... In this direction the absurdities and cruelties of superstition have carried
men to extreme lengths. In the case of Josephus we ...
/e/exorcist.htm - 15k

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)
... They were a constant incentive to idolatry, clouded the mind with superstition,
tended and were closely allied to imposture (Matthew 24:24). ...
/e/enchantment.htm - 16k

Dead (580 Occurrences)
... Because (1) such a custom would be a superstition involving the principle of opus
operarum; and (2) Paul could not share or even tolerate a contemporary idea ...
/d/dead.htm - 80k

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