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Often appears with: the nature and attributes of God · myth and the gods of the nations · idolatry · use of sculpture and painting · true god vs false gods · religious persecution and toleration · rejection of heathen gods · prayer and worship · divine glory
Usually: argument (2) · censure (2)
“The Divine Majesty, which is far above the reach of human sight, ought not to be corrupted by unseemly figures.” Jean Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Vol. 1 of 2) · insight
Calvin argues that Scripture rejects all heathen gods to direct people to the true God, and claims that making visible representations corrupts divine glory and worship.
A Defection From The True God. Now, as the Scripture, in consideration of the ignorance and dulness of the human understanding, generally speaks in the plainest manner,—where it intends to discriminate between the true God and all false gods, it principally contrasts him with idols; not that it may sanction the more ingenious and plausible systems of the philosophers, but that it may better detect the folly and even…
Calvin argues that visible symbols of God are idolatrous “emulation,” and although sculpture and painting are gifts of God, they should not represent God, since God’s glory cannot be accurately imaged.
of all the evil is a preposterous emulation, with which they have rivalled them by exercising their minds in contriving, and their hands in forming, visible symbols of the Deity. XII. Nevertheless, I am not so scrupulous as to think that no images ought ever to be permitted. But since sculpture and painting are gifts of God, I wish for a pure and legitimate use of both; lest those things, which the Lord hath conferr…