Meaning
primarily "a phantom or likeness" (from eidos, "an appearance," lit., "that which is seen"), or "an idea, fancy," denotes in the NT (a) "an idol," an image to represent a false god, Act 7:41, 1Co 12:2, Rev 9:20; (b) "the false god" worshipped in an image, Act 15:20, Rom 2:22, 1Co 8:4, 1Co 8:7, 1Co 10:19, 2Co 6:16, 1Th 1:9, 1Jo 5:21.
"The corresponding Heb. word denotes 'vanity,' Jer 14:22, Jer 18:15; 'thing of nought,' Lev 19:4, marg., cp. Eph 4:17. Hence what represented a deity to the Gentiles, was to Paul a 'vain thing,' Act 14:15; 'nothing in the world,' 1Co 8:4, 1Co 10:19. Jeremiah calls the idol a 'scarecrow' ('pillar in a garden,' Jer 10:5, marg.), and Isaiah, Isa 1:44-20, etc., and Habakkuk, Hab 1:2-19 and the Psalmist, Psa 1:115-8, etc., are all equally scathing. It is important to notice, however, that in each case the people of God are addressed. When he speaks to idolaters, Paul, knowing that no man is won by ridicule, adopts a different line, Act 1:14-18, Act 17:16, Act 1:17-31."* [* From Notes on Thessalonians, pp. 44, 45 by Hogg and Vine.]
