Symbols of the Christian Faith

Front Cover
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Feb 21, 2002 - Art - 166 pages
Symbols 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.
 

Contents

Symbols of the Evangelists the Apostles
85
18
100
888888
101
51
108
Glossary of Colors and Numbers
131
The Church Calendar
137
56
145
57
157
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2002)

Alva William Steffler (1934-2023) was professor of art at Wheaton College. In addition to teaching sculpture, design, drawing, and art education, he also worked in church ministry and served as president of the international organization CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts).

Bibliographic information