The Letter of Jeremiah: A Warning Against Idols
- Bible Believing Christian
- Aug 19
- 4 min read
The Letter of Jeremiah: A Warning Against Idols
The Letter of Jeremiah is a short book that many Protestants have never read because it’s not in most modern Protestant Bibles. Yet it was part of the Bible of the early church, included in the Septuagint and found in early Christian manuscripts right alongside Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Baruch.
This short letter is a sharp and sarcastic attack against idol worship. Written as if Jeremiah himself were sending a message to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, it warns them not to be deceived by the impressive statues and rituals of pagan religion. Over and over, it repeats the refrain: “They are not gods, do not fear them!”
At its heart, the Letter of Jeremiah reminds believers that idols may look powerful, but they are empty. Only the living God saves. For Christians, this message points us directly to Christ — the true image of God, who is not made of wood or stone but came in the flesh to redeem us.
Introduction: Author, Date, and Context
Author: Traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, but most scholars believe it was written later, possibly by a disciple or in Jeremiah’s prophetic voice.
Date: Likely composed in the exilic or post-exilic period (6th–2nd century BC).
Etymology (Hebrew): There is no separate Hebrew text of the Letter of Jeremiah preserved. It appears only in Greek tradition.
Etymology (Greek – LXX): In the Septuagint, it is titled Ἐπιστολὴ Ἰερεμίου (Epistolē Ieremiou, modern pronunciation: Eh-pee-sto-LAY Yair-eh-MEE-oo), meaning “The Letter of Jeremiah.”
Setting: Presented as a message sent to exiles in Babylon, it warns them not to fear or imitate the gods of their captors.
The Bible of the Early Church
The Letter of Jeremiah was always included in the Septuagint (LXX) and appears in the earliest complete Christian Bibles (Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus). It is often placed as chapter 6 of Baruch in Catholic tradition, but in the Orthodox and early Christian canon it circulated as a standalone book.
For the first Christians, this text was part of Scripture. It reinforced the absolute foolishness of idolatry in contrast to the glory of the true God. Its presence in the early Bible makes clear that the church saw this message as essential for believers facing a pagan world.
Summary of Movements
Opening Warning (vv. 1–5)
The exiles are warned not to fear the gods of Babylon, no matter how impressive they look: “When you see multitudes prostrating themselves before and behind them, say in your heart, ‘It is you, O Lord, whom we ought to worship.’”
The Idols Exposed (vv. 6–39)
A scathing satire of idols: they cannot move, speak, or save themselves. They need priests to carry them, dust them, and protect them from rust, insects, and thieves. Repeated refrain: “They are not gods, do not fear them.”
Idols Compared to Creation (vv. 40–72)
Closing Appeal (vv. 73–78)
The letter ends by commanding the exiles to remain faithful to the true God and not be corrupted by pagan worship.
Christ Connections
The True Image: Where idols are lifeless images of false gods, Christ is the “visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). The letter’s mockery of false images magnifies the glory of the true Image, Jesus.
Powerless vs. Powerful: Idols cannot save themselves or others, but Christ entered death and rose again with power to save.
The Word Incarnate: The idols are mute, needing priests to speak for them. Christ is the living Word, who speaks with authority and truth.
The True Temple: The idols sit in temples that decay, but Christ is the temple raised up (John 2:19–21).
Deeper Insights & Easter Eggs
Satire in Scripture: The Letter of Jeremiah is one of the most sarcastic books in the Bible, mocking idols relentlessly. Its ridicule prefigures Paul’s disdain for idols in passages like Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians 8–10.
Repetition as Catechesis: The refrain “they are not gods, do not fear them” teaches through rhythm, almost like a creed for exiles.
Parallels to Isaiah: Much of its mockery echoes Isaiah 44, where idols are described as wooden objects carved by men who then bow down to them.
Application
Modern Idolatry: Though we don’t bow to statues, our culture worships wealth, pleasure, power, and fame — equally powerless to save.
Fear of False Powers: Like the exiles, Christians are tempted to fear what the world fears — governments, systems, or human approval. The letter reminds us to fear God alone.
Clarity in Confusion: The sarcasm of the Letter of Jeremiah cuts through illusions: idols may look impressive, but they are nothing. Christ alone is everything.
Encouragement
For exiles in Babylon, this letter was a reminder: “God is still God. Idols are empty.” For believers today, it points to the same hope — no rival power can match Christ, the true Image of God. Even when surrounded by the idols of our age, we cling to the living God who sees, speaks, and saves.
Conclusion
The Letter of Jeremiah is short but sharp. It dismantles the credibility of idols and exalts the living God. For the early church, it was part of Scripture that reinforced faith in Christ as the true revelation of God. Where false gods are silent and lifeless, Christ is the living Word who entered the world and reigns forever.
