Yet these gods can’t save themselves from rust and moths, even though they are covered with purple garments.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 12. Them, of account of the many votaries, verse 16. Arnobius (6) ridicules such gods. Calmet.—Prot. adopt similar arguments against the real presence as if we believed that Christ was hurt when the sacramental species were broken or devoured by vermin. A little more boldness will prompt them to reject the divinity of Christ, who was pleased to give up his body to those who treated him shamefully. Almost every argument which is levelled against Christ’s real presence in the blessed Eucharist, maybe turned against the incarnation; and hence so many now become Socinians, being unwilling to submit their understanding to the mysteries of religion. To apply these texts to holy pictures, would be nugatory. See Isaiah 40:18. Bible.—The absurdities here specified, shew how foolish are those who serve idols or take any images to be gods. Worthington.—Calvin represents the pagans as adoring God under the images, as if they used them in the same light as Catholics do; which is contrary to this epistle, and so forth Tirinus.