Baptismal Imagery in Early Christianity , livre ebook

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210 pages

English

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What can we learn from early Christian imagery about the theological meaning of baptism? Robin Jensen, a leading scholar of early Christian art and worship, examines multiple dimensions of the early Christian baptismal rite. She explores five models for understanding baptism--as cleansing from sin, sickness, and Satan; as incorporation into the community; as sanctifying and illuminative; as death and regeneration; and as the beginning of the new creation--showing how visual images, poetic language, architectural space, and symbolic actions signify and convey the theological meaning of this ritual practice. Considering image and action together, Jensen offers a holistic and integrated understanding of the power of baptism. The book is illustrated with photos.

Sujets

Christianity

Christian liturgy

Christian worship

Christian theology

Philosophie et théologie

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 juin 2012
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441236272
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0749€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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© 2012 by Robin M. Jensen
Published by Baker Academic
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakeracademic.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-3627-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
“This volume illumines the multiple biblical metaphors that evoke the meaning of baptism, offers a lucid and richly attested account of early church baptismal practices, and awakens the imagination of readers to engage in contemporary celebrations of baptism with renewed vitality. The book demonstrates that metaphor, architecture, visualization, and liturgy are not mere applications of theology but rather help constitute theology, and it does so in a way that is both accessible to students and instructive for veteran pastors and theological educators.”
John D. Witvliet , Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary
“True to our social-human natures, we Christians have an insatiable desire to dig into the treasures of our past to discover the world of ancient beliefs and practices behind the images, names, texts, and symbols composing the biblical-traditional faith we practice today. Robin Jensen has taken the vast and varied array of treasures from early Christian baptism and organized them into a theologically enlightening exhibit, leading the reader through a series of ‘rooms’ through which one may marvel at the rich and varied elements composing the sacramental whole.”
Bruce T. Morrill, SJ , Vanderbilt University
“Robin Jensen’s attention to art and architecture is an important addition to existing scholarship that focuses primarily on texts. This fresh approach to the topic is carefully researched and amply illustrated. Christians concerned with a renewal of baptismal practice today will find a rich trove of biblical stories and metaphors that inspired and informed early Christian communities.”
Ruth A. Meyers , Church Divinity School of the Pacific
“This new study of baptism may be unique in exploring the early history of Christian initiation not through authors or ideas but symbols. Drawing material and literary evidence together in a deft and unprecedented way, Jensen reveals how early Christians themselves experienced their rite of initiation. The book, like the rite, is rich and diverse; it demonstrates the variety of baptismal images and understandings that could coexist and catalyze one another. Washing, community membership, illumination, rebirth, and new creation are all vividly drawn in word and image. This array of fundamental images and their ritualization provides new insight not only into baptism but also into the ways Christian identity itself was created and expressed.”
Andrew McGowan , Trinity College, The University of Melbourne
“Those who are designing baptisteries and fonts and those involved in preparing the elect for baptism will be grateful for this book. It is a brilliant synchronization of rich resources: Scripture, early Christian documents, poetry, and initiatory customs. Its many illustrations show how the languages of art, architecture, and ritual behavior complement and sustain one another. The people who may have experienced these ancient places and liturgies come to life. The book will kindle your senses.”
Richard S. Vosko , PhD, Hon. AIA, designer and consultant for sacred spaces; author, God’s House Is Our House: Re-imagining the Environment for Worship
For Michael and Andrea, who included me on their catechetical journeys
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Baptism as Cleansing from Sin and Sickness
New Testament Baptisms as Cleansing Rites
Jesus’s Baptism as a Cleansing Rite in Early Christian Writings
Jesus’s Baptism in Early Christian Art
Other Biblical Figures of Baptismal Cleansing and Healing
Ritual Actions Signifying Cleansing and Healing
2. Incorporation into the Community
Christians as a New Race
Church as Mother and God as Father
Christians as Adopted Heirs
Joining the Church Likened to Membership in Other Associations
Other Symbolic Metaphors for the Christian Community
Rituals of Incorporation
3. Baptism as Sanctifying and Illuminative
The Holy Spirit at Jesus’s Baptism
Anointing in Ancient Religious Practice
Baptism and the Holy Spirit in Post–New Testament Christian Documents
Anointing and the Spirit’s Gift in the Fourth Century
Anointing’s Signification
Symbols of the Holy Spirit’s Gifts
Baptism at Pentecost and Epiphany
4. Baptism as Dying and Rising
Scriptural Sources for Baptismal Rebirth
Typological Figures of Baptismal Rebirth
Architectural and Liturgical Evocations of Baptism as Death and Rebirth
Ritual Actions Signifying Death and Rebirth
5. Baptism as the Beginning of the New Creation
The Creation, Fall, and Restoration of Adam and Eve in Baptismal Catecheses
The Jordan River, the Rivers of Paradise, and the Fountain
The Samaritan Woman at the Well as a Baptismal Figure
Bridal Motifs in Baptismal Catecheses
The Ogdoad as a Figure of the Resurrection
Ritual Acts Signifying the Restoration of Eden
Bibliography
Ancient Writings Index
Subject Index
Notes
Back Cover
Illustrations
Figure 1.1 Detail of Jesus being baptized by John
Figure 1.2 Jesus baptized by John
Figure 1.3 Noah in the ark with dove
Figure 1.4 Noah with Daniel
Figure 1.5 Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea
Figure 1.6 Exodus from Egypt
Figure 1.7 Baptism and Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter
Figure 1.8 Peter striking the rock, Peter’s arrest, Jesus healing the paralytic, Jesus healing the blind man, the Cana miracle, and the multiplication of loaves and fish
Figure 1.9 Adam and Eve, Cana miracle, Jesus raising the dead, Jesus healing the paralytic, and Peter striking the rock
Figure 1.10 Detail of Jesus washing Peter’s feet
Figure 2.1 Dome mosaic, Arian baptistery
Figure 2.2 Dome mosaic, baptistery of Sta. Restituta
Figure 2.3 Funerary inscription of Licinia Amias
Figure 2.4 Baptism with funerary banquet
Figure 2.5 Fish with loaves
Figure 2.6 Catch of fish and Jesus stilling the storm
Figure 2.7 Shepherd with milk
Figure 2.8 Good shepherd with flock; Adam and Eve
Figure 2.9 Shepherd with sheep
Figure 2.10 Mosaic, apse of Ss. Cosmas e Damiano
Figure 3.1 Funerary plaque of Priscus
Figure 3.2 Funerary inscription
Figure 3.3 Mosaic, baptistery in Albenga, Liguria
Figure 3.4 Marble grave marker
Figure 3.5 Harpocrates on Isis’s lap
Figure 3.6 Five wise brides or women coming to Christ’s tomb
Figure 3.7 Detail of John baptizing Jesus
Figure 3.8 Baptism of Jesus and Jesus in the temple with the elders
Figure 3.9 Lamps, birds, and crosses
Figure 3.10 The Theotechnus family
Figure 4.1 Peter striking the rock, Peter being arrested, Jesus raising the dead, Jesus healing the blind man, multiplication of the loaves, Jesus entering Jerusalem
Figure 4.2 Jesus raising Lazarus; arrest of Peter
Figure 4.3 Detail of the Trinity creating Adam and Eve; Adam and Eve receiving symbols of their labor
Figure 4.4 Scenes from the story of Jonah, with Noah, and a fisherman; Moses striking the rock; Jesus raising Lazarus
Figure 4.5 Daniel with lions
Figure 4.6 Adam and Eve
Figure 4.7 Baptismal font, Bulla Regia Tunisia
Figure 4.8 Baptistery, Grado, Italy
Figure 4.9 Baptismal font, Mustis, Tunisia
Figure 4.10 Baptismal font, Church of Vitalis, Sbeïtla, Tunisia
Figure 5.1 Preaching of John the Baptist and baptism of Jesus
Figure 5.2 Lamb on rock with four rivers
Figure 5.3 Deer coming to the stream
Figure 5.4 Baptismal font from Kélibia
Figure 5.5 Peter striking the rock, his arrest, and his denial of Christ
Figure 5.6 Woman at the well
Figure 5.7 Samaritan woman with Christ
Figure 5.8 Samaritan woman at the well; Cana miracle
Figure 5.9 Baptistery, Lateran Basilica, Rome
Acknowledgments
T his manuscript began many years ago. First drafts were filed away, then moved to a new home, and gradually revised during alternate summers. Originally intended to serve a catechetical purpose, its function has changed slightly through these stages. It now aims both to provide a visual and textual resource for students of early Christian liturgy and to show the symbolic and sensual dimensions of ancient rituals. This is not meant to be a history of Christian baptism. Fine examples of such works have been produced in recent years, many by valued and learned colleagues, whom I have to thank for their erudition. [1] I am also grateful to many others for their encouragement, able editorial and bibliographical assistance, proofreading of final drafts, and indexing help. Among them are my husband, J. Patout Burns; my former students Michael Domeracki, Lauren Griffin, and Andrea Thornton; my current student, John Burnam; and my editors at Baker Academic, James Ernest and Brian Bolger. If I were the one to award them, they would all be wearing starry crowns.
Abbreviations
Old Testament Gen. Genesis Exo