Symbols of the Christian FaithSymbols of the Christian Faith is an illustrated guide to the major visual symbols used by the Christian church throughout history. These stylized illustrations, designed by artist Alva William Steffler, are intended to provide usable, up-to-date resources for contemporary church worship and Christian education. Throughout church history symbols have been used to aid worship and to communicate difficult spiritual ideas. Steffler here collects these symbols, from early Christian catacomb art to the present, offering fresh graphic interpretations of old visual forms. The accompanying text notes the biblical sources for the various symbols and traces their use in church tradition and their links to Greco-Roman culture. Extensive glossaries and indexes round out the book. Broadly inclusive and sensitive to the perspectives of every church tradition, this volume will be an invaluable resource for churches using Christian art as well as for general readers curious about the meaning of common Christian symbols. |
Common terms and phrases
Advent altar Apostles associated baptism became a symbol believers biblical blessing blood book of Revelation bread Christ Christ child Christian art Christian calendar Christian iconography Christian symbolism Christian tradition Christmas Chron church crosier cross Crucifixion death depicted Deut Devil eagle earth Easter Epiphany Eucharist evil Exod Ezek feasts four fruit goat Gospel Greek word halo heaven Holy Spirit hourglass humankind iconostasis icons Israel James Jesus Jewish John Kings Last Judgment legend Lent lion liturgical color Luke Mark martyred Matt meaning medieval metaphor Middle Ages monogram Old Testament paintings Pentecost primarily a symbol Prov purity reference Renaissance represents resurrection Revelation robe Roman Catholic Royal Doors sacred Saint SAINT JUDE Saint Matthias Saint Veronica sanctuary Satan Scripture season serpent seven signifies Simon the Zealot Sunday tabernacle Temple tian tion Trinity twelve veil Virgin Mary Zech