Creation is not to be worshipped
We have spoken earlier about the Persians, on the point that they do not build temples, yet worship the sun and the works that God has made. This is forbidden to us. We are taught not to serve “the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25), but to know that “the creation will be set free from the bondage of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21), and that “the eager expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19), and that “the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope” (Romans 8:20). We are taught, moreover, that the things subjected to the bondage “of corruption” (Romans 8:21) and to “futility” (Romans 8:20), which do their work in a better “hope”, must not be honoured in the place of God, who needs nothing, or of his Son, the firstborn “of all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Let this suffice, then, in addition to what was said there, about the Persian nation, who turn away from altars and images but serve “the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25).
Since he also cited the saying of Heraclitus, and explained it as hinting that it is foolish to pray “to images” unless one knows “gods and heroes, who they are” (Heraclitus, fragment B5), we must say this. It is possible to know God, and his Only-begotten, and those whom God has honoured with the title “god” and who share in his divinity. These are different from all “the gods of the nations”; and as for “who they are”, they are “demons” (Psalm 96:5). But it is not possible both to know God and to pray “to images”.
Greek
Εἴρηται δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἀνωτέρω περὶ Περσῶν πρὸς τὸ νεὼς μὲν αὐτοὺς μὴ ἱδρύεσθαι σέβειν δὲ τὸν ἥλιον καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ δημιουργήματα· ὅπερ ἡμῖν ἀπαγορεύεται. διδασκομένοις μὴ λατρεύειν „τῇ κτίσει παρὰ τὸν κτίσαντα“ ἀλλ᾿ εἰδέναι μὲν ὅτι „ἡ κτίσις ἐλευθερωθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας τῆς φθορᾶς εἰς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τῆς δόξης τῶν τέκνων τοῦ θεοῦ“ καὶ ὅτι „ἡ ἀποκαραδοκία τῆς κτίσεως τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ θεοῦ ἀπεκδέχεται“ καὶ ὅτι „τῇ ματαιότητι ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη, οὐχ ἑκοῦσα ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα ἐπ᾿ ἐλπίδι.“ καὶ μὴ μὴν καὶ δεῖν τὰ ἐπὶ· τῇ δουλείᾳ „τῆς φθορᾶς“ καὶ ἐπὶ „τῇ ματαιότητι“ ὑποτεταγμένα καὶ „ἐπ᾿ ἐλπίδι“ κρείττονι ταῦτα πράττοντα ἐν χώρᾳ τιμᾶν θεοῦ τοῦ ἀνενδεοῦς ἢ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ πρωτοτόκου „πάσης κτίσεως.“ ἀρκεῖ τοίνυν πρὸς ἐκείνοις καὶ ταῦτα περὶ τοῦ Περσῶν ἔθνους. βωμοὺς καὶ ἀγάλματα ἐκτρεπομένων λατρευόντων δὲ „τῇ κτίσει παρὰ τὸν κτίσαντα.“ ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ τὴν Ἡρακλείτου παρέθετο λέξιν, ὑποδιηγησάμενος αὐτὴν ὑποσημαίνουσαν ἠλίθιον εἶναι τὸ „τοῖς ἀγάλμασιν“ εὔχεσθαι, ἐὰν μὴ γινώσκῃ τις „θεοὺς καὶ ἥρωας, οἵτινές εἰσι,“ λεκτέον ὅτι γινώσκειν μὲν ἔστι θεὸν καὶ τὸν μονογενῆ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς τετιμημένους ὑπὸ θεοῦ τῇ θεὸς προσηγορίᾳ καὶ μετέχοντας τῆς θεότητος αὐτοῦ, ἑτέρους ὄντας παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεοὺς „τῶν ἐθνῶν,“ „οἵτινές εἰσι“ „δαιμόνια“· οὐ μὴν δυνατόν ἐστι καὶ γινώσκειν τὸν θεὸν καὶ „τοῖς ἀγάλμασιν“ εὔχεσθαι.