If you would try to actually define the key terms, we'd have something sensible to talk about.
If you would try to actually define the key terms, we'd have something sensible to talk about.
If it were only that simple.
What the RCC teaches about Mary goes way beyond adoration or honor.
However, that is not the issue.
What does the NT declare on this is the issue?
All prayer in the NT is directed to God.
All worship in the NT is directed to God.
We are not to kneel before the created thing and pray to it or ask it to do things for us.
We certainly are not to appeal to medals and pieces of cloth to aid in our salvation. No where is this ever sanctioned else in Roman Catholicism.
God, and only God, is worthy of our prayers, our worship and our service.
Latreia, in the NT, is used five times. Four are in reference to God (John 16:2; Rms 12:1, Heb 9:1, 9:6).
It is used one time in reference to the Israelis and the Temple (Rms 9:4).
Latreuo, the verb, meaning to worship is used 21 times.
Matt 4:10
Luke 1:74
Luke 2:37
Luke 4:8
Acts 7:7
Acts 7:42
Acts 24:14
Acts 26:7
Acts 27:23
Romans 1:9
Romans 1:25
Philippians 3:3
2 Timothy 1:3
Hebrews 8:5
Hebrews 9:9
Hebrews 9:14
Hebrews 10:2
Hebrews 12:28
Hebrews 13:10
Revelation 7:15
Revelation 22:3
Of these...all but
Hebrews 9:9
Hebrews 10:2
Hebrews 13:10
have reference to serving God directly or indirectly.
There is no use of this verb in connection with a created being such as Mary or any other believer.
The word eidolon is used 11 times in the NT.
In each instance it is used in the negative in that we are not to worship idols.
In Romans 1:23 Paul warns against worshiping the created image (eikon) of mortal man. In this particularly condemning verse he notes, "and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures."
Roman Catholicism sure seems to have done the first part in swapping out Jesus for Mary in its idols.
The reliance upon some in Roman Catholicism upon the Scapular and Miraculous Medal for salvation testify to this abomination.
In Revelation the word eikon is associated with the beast and the worship of the beast.
proskynéō, meaning worship, I go down on my knees, worship, is used 60x in the NT.
As used in the affirmative it is always directed to God.
In the negative, especially in Revelation, the worship is directed away from God. In instances in Acts 10:25 and Revelation 22:9 when Cornelius and John feel to their feet to worship Peter and the Angel respectively both were told to get up as worship is to God.
The Roman Catholic use of idols and prayers to Mary, the medal and scapular, among others, cannot be defended by Scripture upon which all Truth is based.
Ok; just how does ROME define these 'key terms'?