Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Paganism?

10 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Paganism in the Bible

What does the Bible say about paganism? Browse 15 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.

10
Total Verses
5
Old Testament
5
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Paganism

  1. 1
    Exodus 20:3
    Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Leviticus 20:6
    And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Deuteronomy 18:9
    When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Isaiah 44:9
    They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. delectable: Heb. desirable
    KJV
  5. 5
    Jeremiah 10:2
    Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Acts 17:16
    Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. wholly: or, full of idols
    KJV
  7. 7
    Acts 17:22
    Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. Mars' hill: or, court of the Areopagites
    KJV
  8. 8
    Romans 1:22
    Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
    KJV
  9. 9
    Revelation 9:20
    And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
    KJV
  10. 10
    Revelation 21:8
    But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
    KJV

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Paganism? (5 Verses)

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. delectable: Heb. desirable
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Paganism? (5 Verses)

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. wholly: or, full of idols
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. Mars' hill: or, court of the Areopagites
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Paganism

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about paganism. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about paganism and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about paganism is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on paganism needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about paganism with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about paganism, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Paganism?

You have studied 10 verses about paganism. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about paganism?
What does the Bible say about paganism? Browse 15 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme. The Bible contains 10 key verses about paganism spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about paganism are there?
There are 10 key Bible verses about paganism compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about paganism?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about paganism is Exodus 20:3 — "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Where in the Bible does it talk about paganism?
Paganism is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 10 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Paganism