What is Latria?

Latria is a term used in Christian theology to describe the type of worship and adoration that is due to God alone. It is derived from the Greek word latreia, meaning “service” or “worship.” In contrast to other forms of honor or veneration given to saints or angels, Latria is reserved exclusively for the divine and is the highest form of worship in Christian practice. The concept of Latria is particularly significant in distinguishing between worship that is due to God and the reverence given to created beings or objects.

Biblical Foundations

Scriptural Basis for Latria

The Bible emphasizes that worship, in the sense of Latria, is to be directed only to God. This is rooted in the fundamental biblical teaching of monotheism—the belief in one God who alone is worthy of worship.

• The First Commandment: The command to worship God alone is central to the Old Testament and is explicitly stated in the Ten Commandments.
  • Exodus 20:2-5 (NIV):
    

    “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”

    This passage underscores the exclusive worship (Latria) that is due to God alone, forbidding idolatry and the worship of created things.

• The Shema: The Shema is a foundational confession of faith in Judaism and Christianity, emphasizing the oneness of God and the call to love and serve Him alone.
  • Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV):
    

    “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

    The Shema is central to the understanding of Latria as the exclusive worship of the one true God.

• New Testament Affirmation: The New Testament continues this theme, with Jesus affirming the command to worship God alone and rejecting any form of worship directed toward anyone or anything else.
  • Matthew 4:10 (NIV):
    

    “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”‘”

    In His response to Satan’s temptation, Jesus affirms that worship is due to God alone, aligning with the concept of Latria.

  • John 4:23-24 (NIV):
    

    “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

    This passage highlights the nature of true worship (Latria) as being directed to God in spirit and truth.

Distinction from Other Forms of Veneration

In Christian theology, Latria is distinguished from dulia and hyperdulia, which are forms of veneration given to saints and the Virgin Mary, respectively. While dulia and hyperdulia involve honor and reverence, Latria is reserved exclusively for God.

• Dulia and Hyperdulia: The veneration of saints (dulia) and the special honor given to Mary (hyperdulia) are distinct from Latria because they do not involve worship in the sense of adoration or service that is due only to God.
  • Revelation 22:8-9 (NIV):
    

    “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!'”

    This passage illustrates the distinction between worship (Latria) and the respect or veneration due to created beings.

Historical Development and Key Figures

Early Church Understanding

The early Church Fathers emphasized the importance of worshiping God alone, frequently addressing issues related to idolatry and the proper direction of worship.

• Justin Martyr (c. 100-165 AD): Justin Martyr, an early Christian apologist, argued against the worship of idols and emphasized that worship should be directed solely to the one true God.
  • Justin Martyr, First Apology: “But we who out of every tribe of men have been called by Him, we who used to worship senseless idols, now, through the crucified Christ, worship and adore the God who is beyond all corruption.”

    Justin’s writings reflect the early Christian commitment to Latria, rejecting the worship of idols and false gods.

• Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD): Augustine, one of the most influential theologians in Christian history, distinguished between the worship due to God (Latria) and the honor given to saints (dulia).
  • Augustine, City of God: “For this is the worship which is due to God alone, namely, that we should serve Him with faith, hope, and love, but not with the service which we exhibit towards man or angel, though it is only due to God.”

    Augustine’s writings emphasize the exclusive nature of Latria, which involves a worship that can only be offered to God.

Medieval Developments and Scholastic Theology

During the medieval period, the distinction between Latria and other forms of veneration was further developed, particularly in the context of the veneration of saints and relics.

• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD): Thomas Aquinas, a leading figure in Scholastic theology, provided a systematic explanation of the differences between Latria, dulia, and hyperdulia. He argued that Latria is the worship of God, while dulia is the honor given to saints, and hyperdulia is the special veneration reserved for the Virgin Mary.
  • Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica: “Latria is due to God alone, for it is a term implying servitude, which is due to a superior, and properly speaking to God alone, being the Lord of all things… Dulia, on the other hand, is the respect shown to a fellow creature who is honored for being closer to God.”

    Aquinas’ distinction between Latria and other forms of veneration became a key part of Catholic theology.

• Council of Nicaea II (787 AD): The Second Council of Nicaea addressed the use of icons in Christian worship, affirming the legitimacy of venerating icons (dulia) while emphasizing that Latria is reserved for God alone.
  • Nicaea II, Definition of Faith: “We define with all certitude and accuracy that just as the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, so also the venerable and holy images… should be set forth in the holy churches of God… For the honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented. However, the worship of Latria is reserved for the divine nature alone.”

    The council’s decrees helped clarify the appropriate forms of veneration and worship within the Church.

Reformation and Protestant Perspectives

During the Protestant Reformation, reformers challenged the Catholic Church’s practices related to the veneration of saints and the use of images, arguing that these practices blurred the lines between Latria and dulia.

• Martin Luther (1483-1546): Martin Luther criticized the Catholic Church for what he perceived as the idolatrous worship of saints, relics, and images. He argued that true worship (Latria) should be directed to God alone, without intermediaries.
  • Luther, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church: “We are the true worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth, for we worship the one true God through Christ alone, without the intercession of saints or the use of images.”

    Luther’s views on Latria and his opposition to the veneration of saints and images were influential in shaping Protestant worship practices.

• John Calvin (1509-1564): John Calvin, another key figure in the Reformation, also rejected the veneration of saints and the use of images, arguing that these practices violated the command to worship God alone.
  • Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion: “The worship which Latria expresses is that which is due to God alone. Hence it is impiety to offer Latria to any other, be it image, saint, or angel.”

    Calvin’s emphasis on the exclusive worship of God shaped Reformed theology and worship.

Theological Significance

Worship and Idolatry

The concept of Latria is central to Christian theology because it defines the boundaries of proper worship and helps prevent idolatry. By reserving Latria for God alone, Christians are called to worship the Creator rather than the creation.

• Romans 1:25 (NIV):
  

  “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”

  This passage warns against the idolatry of worshiping created things, underscoring the importance of directing Latria to God alone.

The Role of Christ in Worship

In Christian theology, Jesus Christ, as the incarnate Son of God, is the focal point of Latria. Worship directed to Christ is considered true worship because He is fully divine.

• Revelation 5:12-14 (NIV):
  

  “In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

  This passage depicts Christ receiving worship (Latria) alongside God the Father, affirming His divine status.

Implications for Christian Practice

The understanding of Latria has practical implications for Christian worship and devotion. It guides the way Christians approach God in worship and helps maintain the distinction between God and His creation.

• Worship in Spirit and Truth: True worship (Latria) is not merely an external act but involves the heart and spirit, as Jesus taught.
  • John 4:23-24 (NIV):
    

    “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

    This passage highlights the need for worship that is both sincere and aligned with God’s truth.

Legacy and Influence in Christian Doctrine

Latria has played a crucial role in shaping Christian worship practices and doctrinal formulations throughout history. It has helped define the boundaries of acceptable worship and has influenced the development of liturgical practices across different Christian traditions.

Conservative Reflection on Latria

From a conservative theological perspective, the concept of Latria is seen as essential for maintaining the purity of Christian worship. Conservatives emphasize the importance of reserving worship for God alone and guarding against practices that might blur the lines between worship and veneration.

Final Thoughts on God’s Love and Jesus

The concept of Latria ultimately points to the love and sovereignty of God, who alone is worthy of worship and adoration. In the person of Jesus Christ, God has revealed Himself fully, inviting believers to enter into a relationship of worship and devotion that is grounded in His love and truth.

• Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV):
  

  “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This passage reflects the ultimate goal of Latria: to glorify God and acknowledge His lordship over all creation. True worship is a response to the love and grace of God, expressed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.