Bible and Art (PDF)

This book explores the revelation of God's love in the mystery of the covenant, and shows how this potent theological concept has inspired artists through the ages to reflect on the nature of divine interaction with mankind.It traces the development of the covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people as given in the Hebrew Scriptures, and examines the Christian concept of the New Covenant, portrayed by Gospel writers and those of the early Church in the New Testament. Alongside this, the book matches a variety of artistic work in which these texts are made visible. The reference to over 300 works of art is a mere sample, and will inspire readers to research this hugely rich resource both for their own interest and for use in teaching about the Christian faith and its important Jewish roots. Learning in the contemporary world often lifts the emphasis from mere words to illustration, and this book shows clearly that, throughout history, the Christian world has sought to use art to aid understanding of biblical texts. Art continues to be used hand-in-hand with the Scriptures in present-day classrooms, as well as in group and individual study. This volume provides a basis for the exploration of God's love in his covenantal relationship with the People of God, ancient and modern, and will serve to inspire an investigation of the huge range of artistic interpretation which is available through twenty-first century technology.