Christ the Miracle Worker in Early Christian Art

Description

Images and artistic representations were of significant value to the early Christian communities. In Christ the Miracle Worker in Early Christian Art, Lee Jefferson argues, in fact, that images provided visual representations of vital religious and theological truths crucial to the faithful, by which art possessed the power to project concepts and claims beyond the limitations of the written and spoken word. Images of Christ performing miracles or healings, as demonstrated in this volume, functioned as advertisements for Christianity and illustrated explications of the nature of Christ. These images of Christ as worker of miracles and healing form the nucleus of an extensive examination of this power of art, its role in fostering devotion, and the deep connection between art and its underwriting and elucidation of pivotal theological claims and developments. Lee M. Jefferson is assistant professor of religion at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. His area of interest is the development of the Christian tradition and art and imagery of Late Antiquity. He has published articles on aspects of early Christianity in Religion and the Arts, Studia Patristica, and Religion Compass. He is a recipient of the Kirk Award for Teaching Excellence. Acknowledgements vii Abbreviations ix 1. Introduction 1 2. Healing, Miracle, and Magic in Non-Christian Sources 15 3. Healing and Miracles in Early Christian Writings 55 4. Images of Christ Healing 87 5. Images of Christ Raising the Dead 109 6. The Nature Miracles of Christ 129 7. The Staff of Jesus 145 8. Conclusion 177 Appendix of Images 183 Bibliography 211 Index 231 v