In this study, we will seek to
understand what a graven image is and the
implications for making pictures of God.
As in previous studies, we
will look at definitions, scriptures,
commentary evidence and confessional support
for the glorifying of God in how we live.
“Shew me thy ways, O LORD;
teach me thy paths.” (Psalm 25:4)
Definition:
Question: What is a graven
image?
Answer: The phrase “graven
image” comes from the King James Version and
is first found in Exodus 20:4 in the second of
the Ten Commandments. The Hebrew word
translated “graven image” means literally “an
idol.” A graven image is an image carved out
of stone, wood, or metal. It could be a statue
of a person or animal, or a relief carving in
a wall or pole. It is differentiated from a
molten image, which is melted metal poured
into a cast. Abstract Asherah poles, carved
wooden Ba’als covered in gold leaf, and
etchings of gods accompanying Egyptian
hieroglyphics are all graven images. *
Definition:
Graven Image
The context of the “Thou
shall not make a graven image” passages is
dealing with worship of false things. Exodus
20:4 states that no one is to make an image of
what is in heaven, so that you may not worship
them or bow down to them (20:5). This is
reiterated in Leviticus 26:1. The Deuteronomy
passages, contextually, are dealing with the
same thing: an admonition against worshipping
a false image. God does not want people bowing
down before idols and worshiping false gods.
**
Synonyms for Graven:
Inscribed, carved, incised,
carven, engraved, and etched.
“Thou shalt not make unto
thee any graven image, or any likeness of
anything that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down
thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the
Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto
the third and fourth generation of them that
hate me.” (Exodus 20:4-5)
Consider Barnes'
Notes on the Bible on Exodus 20:4:
“Graven image - Any sort of
image is here intended.
As the first commandment
forbids the worship of any false god, seen or
unseen, it is here forbidden to worship an
image of any sort, whether the figure of a
false deity Joshua 23:7 or one in any way
symbolic of Yahweh (see Exodus 32:4). The
spiritual acts of worship were symbolized in
the furniture and ritual of the tabernacle and
the altar, and for this end the forms of
living things might be employed as in the case
of the Cherubim (see Exodus 25:18 note): but
the presence of the invisible God was to be
marked by no symbol of Himself, but by His
words written on stones, preserved in the ark
in the holy of holies and covered by the
mercy-seat. The ancient Persians and the
earliest legislators of Rome also agreed in
repudiating images of the Deity.” (1)
Why an image of Christ is
impossible theologically:
1.We should not forget the
first commandment forbids the worship of any
other than the true God. The second
commandment flows from this first prohibition.
2.An image cannot capture
Christ’s divine and human natures and because
this, a picture of Christ especially violates
his deity.
3.Exodus prohibits the use of
images as an aid in the worship God.
4.Pictures of Christ have no
semblance to the way He actually looked.
Christ's glory cannot be captured in a
picture, so they are necessarily inaccurate
and false.
As an aside, the Exodus
passage does not forbid the making of artwork
in general. Painting pictures of your children
or wife is okay.
Questions for an artist or
promoter of pictures of Christ:
When someone shows you a
picture of Christ, ask, who is that? If the
person says Christ, follow up by asking if the
picture is the product of the artist’s mind or
an actual portrait. An actual portrait is
impossible. Is the picture is a product of the
artist’s mind, or is this image based upon a
personal revelation of some kind? If so, this
raises a completely new list of questions
about private revelations. Is the revelation
true or false? If it is from his own mind, is
this idolatry?
A mental image of God or the
Lord Jesus Christ cannot help but to distort
Him. A mental image that becomes a picture is
a false image because deity cannot be captured
in a picture. Why? Because God in His essence
is incorporeal. A false picture is an idol,
hence, idolatry.
John Calvin on images of
God:
“There are two parts in the
Commandment — the first forbids the erection
of a graven image, or any likeness; the second
prohibits the transferring of the worship
which God claims for Himself alone, to any of
these phantoms or delusive shows. Therefore,
to devise any image of God, is in itself
impious; because by this corruption His
Majesty is adulterated, and He is figured to
be other than He is. There is no need of
refuting the foolish fancy of some, that all
sculptures and pictures are here condemned by
Moses, for he had no other object than to
rescue God’s glory from all the imaginations,
which tend to corrupt it. And assuredly it is
a most gross indecency to make God like a
stock or a stone… I do not deny that these
things are to be taken connectedly, since
superstitious worship is hardly ever separated
from the preceding error; for as soon as any
one has permitted himself to devise an image
of God, he immediately falls into false
worship. And surely whosoever reverently and
soberly feels and thinks about God Himself, is
far from this absurdity; nor does any desire
or presumption to metamorphose God ever creep
in, except when coarse and carnal imaginations
occupy our minds. Hence, it comes to pass,
that those, who frame for themselves gods of
corruptible materials, superstitiously adore
the work of their own hands. I will then
readily allow these two things, which are
inseparable, to be joined together; only let
us recollect that God is insulted, not only
when His worship is transferred to idols, but
when we try to represent Him by any outward
similitude.” (2)
The Ten Commandments —
Thomas Watson:
“Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or
that is in the water under the earth: thou
shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation
of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto
thousands of them that love me and keep my
commandments.' Exodus 20: 4-6.
I.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven
image.
In
the first commandment worshipping a false god
is forbidden; in this, worshipping the true
God in a false manner.
Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image.'
This forbids not making an image for civil
use. Whose is this image and superscription?
They say unto him, It is Caesar's.' Matt 22:
20, 21. But the commandment forbids setting up
an image for religious use or worship.
Nor
the likeness of any thing,' &c. All ideas,
portraitures, shapes, images of God, whether
by effigies or pictures, are here forbidden.
Take heed lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make
the similitude of any figure.' Deut. 4: 15,
16. God is to be adored in the heart, not
painted to the eye.
Thou
shalt not bow down to them.' The intent of
making images and pictures is to worship them.
No sooner was Nebuchadnezzar's golden image
set up, but all the people fell down and
worshipped it. Dan 3: 7. God forbids such
prostrating ourselves before an idol. The
thing prohibited in this commandment is
image-worship. To set up an image to represent
God, is debasing him. If any one should make
images of snakes or spiders, saying he did it
to represent his prince, would not the prince
take it in disdain? What greater disparagement
to the infinite God than to represent him by
that which is unite; the living God, by that
which is without life; and the Maker of all by
a thing which is made?
[1]
To make a true image of God is impossible. God
is a spiritual essence and, being a Spirit, he
is invisible. John 4: 24. Ye saw no manner of
similitude on the day that the Lord spake with
you out of the midst of the fire.' Deut. 4:
15. How can any paint the Deity? Can they make
an image of that which they never saw? Quod
invisibile est, pingi non potest [There
is no depicting the invisible]. Ambrose. Ye
saw no similitude.' It is impossible to make a
picture of the soul, or to paint the angels,
because they are of a spiritual nature; much
less can we paint God by an image, who is an
infinite, untreated Spirit.
[2]
To worship God by an image, is both absurd and
unlawful.
(1)
It is absurd and irrational; for, the workman
is better than the work,' He who has builded
the house has more honour than the house.'
Heb. 3: 3. If the workman be better than the
work, and none bow to the workman, how absurd,
then, is it to bow to the work of his hands!
Is it not an absurd thing to bow down to the
king's picture, when the king himself is
present? It is more so to bow down to an image
of God, when God himself is everywhere
present.
(2)
It is unlawful to worship God by an image; for
it is against the homily of the church, which
runs thus: The images of God, our Saviour, the
Virgin Mary, are of all others the most
dangerous; therefore the greatest care ought
to be had that they stand not in temples and
churches.' So that image-worship is contrary
to our own homilies, and affronts the
authority of the Church of England.
Image-worship is expressly against the letter
of Scripture. Ye shall make no graven image,
neither shall ye set up any image of stone to
bow down unto it.' Lev 26: 1. Neither shalt
thou set up any image; which the Lord thy God
hateth.' Deut. 16: 22. Confounded be all they
that serve graven images.' Psalm 97: 7. Do we
think to please God by doing that which is
contrary to his mind, and that which he has
expressly forbidden?
[3]
Image worship is against the practice of the
saints of old. Josiah, that renowned king,
destroyed the groves and images.2 Kings 23: 6,
24. Constantine abrogated the images set up in
temples. The Christians destroyed images at
Baste, Zurich, and Bohemia. When the Roman
emperors would have thrust images upon them,
they chose rather to die than deflower their
virgin profession by idolatry; they refused to
admit any painter or carver into their
society, because they would not have any
carved state or image of God. When Seraphion
bowed to an idol, the Christians
excommunicated him, and delivered him up to
Satan.” (3)
Confessions on Images:
Westminster Shorter
Catechism
Q.
49. Which is the second commandment?
A.
The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of
anything that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth: thou shalt not bow down
thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the
Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto
the third and fourth generation of them that
hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of
them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Q.
50. What is required in the second
commandment?
A.
The second commandment requireth the
receiving, observing, and keeping pure and
entire, all such religious worship and
ordinances as God hath appointed in his word.
Q.
51. What is forbidden in the second
commandment?
A.
The second commandment forbiddeth the
worshiping of God by images, or any other way
not appointed in his word.
The Heidelberg Catechism is
relevant to the question of images:
Question
96. What does God require in the second
commandment?
Answer.
That we in no wise represent God by images,
nor worship him in any other way than he has
commanded in his word.
Question
97. Are images then not at all to be made?
Answer.
God neither can nor may be represented by any
means; but as to creatures, though they may be
represented, yet God forbids us to make, or
have any resemblance of them, either in order
to worship them, or to serve God by them.
Question
98. But may not images be tolerated in the
churches, as books to the laity?
Answer.
No; for we must not pretend to be wiser than
God, who will have his people taught not by
dumb images, but by the lively preaching of
his word"
FISHER’S CATECHISM,
Selections from Q&A #51
Q.
What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A.
The second commandment forbiddeth, the
worshipping of God by images, or any other way
not appointed in his word.
Q.
1. What are the leading sins forbidden in this
commandment?
A.
Idolatry and will-worship.
Q.
2. What is the idolatry here condemned?
A.
[The worshipping of God by images]: Thou shalt
not make unto thee any graven image, etc.
Q.
3. What is an image?
A.
It is a statue, picture, or likeness of any
creature whatsoever.
Q.
4. Is it lawful to have images or pictures of
mere creatures?
A.
Yes, providing they be only for ornament; or
the design be merely historical, to transmit
the memory of persons and their actions to
posterity.
Q.
5. Can any image or representation be made of
God?
A.
No; it is absolutely impossible; he being an
infinite, incomprehensible Spirit (Isa.
40:18). “To whom will ye liken God? or, what
likeness will ye compare unto him?” If we
cannot delineate our own souls, much less the
infinite God (Acts 17:29). “We ought not to
think that the Godhead is like unto gold or
silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s
device.”
Q.
6. What judgment should we form of those who
have devised images of God, or of the persons
of the adorable Trinity?
A.
We should adjudge their practice to be both
unlawful and abominable.
Q.
7. Why unlawful?
A.
Because directly contrary to the express
letter of the law in this commandment, and
many other Scriptures; such as, Jer. 10:14-15;
Hos. 13:2; and particularly Deut. 4:15-19, 23.
“Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves,
(for ye saw no MANNER OF SIMILITUDE on the day
that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb, out of
the midst of the fire) lest ye corrupt
yourselves, and make you a graven image, the
similitude of any figure, the likeness of male
or female,” etc.
Q.
8. How is it abominable?
A.
As it is a debasing the Creator of heaven and
earth to the rank of his own creatures; and a
practical denying of all his infinite
perfections (Psa. 50:21).
Q.
9. May we not have a picture of Christ, who
has a true body?
A.
By no means; because, though he has a true
body and a reasonable soul (John 1:14), yet
his human nature subsists in his divine
person, which no picture can represent (Psa.
45:2).
Q.
10. Why ought all pictures of Christ to be
abominated by Christians?
A.
Because they are downright lies, representing
no more than the picture of a mere man:
whereas, the true Christ is God-man;
“Immanuel, God with us” (1 Tim. 3:16; Matt.
1:23).
Q.
11. Is it lawful to form any inward
representation of God, or of Christ, upon our
fancy, bearing a resemblance to any creature
whatsoever?
A.
By no means; because this is the very inlet
unto gross outward idolatry: for, when once
the heathens “became vain in their
imaginations, they presently changed the glory
of the incorruptible God, into images made
like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
four-footed beasts, and creeping things” (Rom.
1:21-23).
Q.
23. Is it lawful, as some plead, to have
images or pictures in churches, though not for
worship, yet for instruction, and raising the
affections?
A.
No; because God has expressly prohibited not
only the worshipping, but the making of any
image whatsoever on a religious account; and
the setting them up in churches, cannot but
have a native tendency to beget a sacred
veneration for them, and therefore ought to be
abstained from, as having, at least, an
appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).
Q.
24. May they not be placed in churches for
beauty and ornament?
A.
No: the proper ornament of churches is the
sound preaching of the gospel, and the pure
dispensation of the sacraments, and other
ordinances of divine institution.
Q.
25. Were not images of the cherubim placed in
the tabernacle and temple, by the command of
God himself?
A.
Yes: but out of all hazard of any abuse, being
placed in the holy of holies, where none of
the people ever came; they were instituted by
God himself, which images are not; and they
belonged to the typical and ceremonial
worship, which is now quite abolished.
Quotes:
“The
beauty of the person of Christ, as represented
in the Scripture, consists in things invisible
unto the eyes of flesh. They are such as no
hand of man can represent or shadow. It is the
eye of faith alone that can see this King in
his beauty. What else can contemplate on the
untreated glories of his divine nature? Can
the hand of man represent the union of his
natures in the same person, wherein he is
peculiarly amiable? What eye can discern the
mutual communications of the properties of his
different natures in the same person?” - John
Owen
“Those
who make pictures of the Savior, who is God as
well as man in one inseparable person, either
limit the incomprehensible Godhead to the
bounds of created flesh, or confound his two
natures like Eutyches, or separate them, like
Nestorius, or deny his Godhead, like Arius;
and those who worship such a picture are
guilty of the same heresy and blasphemy.” -
Philip Schaff
“The
Bible presents no information whatever about
the personal appearance of Jesus Christ, but
it does teach that we are not to think of him
as he may have appeared "in the days of his
flesh," but as he is today in heavenly glory,
in his estate of exaltation (2 Cor. 5:46).
Inasmuch as the Bible presents no data about
the personal appearance of our Saviour, all
artists' pictures of him are wholly imaginary
and constitute only the artists' ideas of his
character and appearance. … [Liberals]
inevitably think of Jesus as a human person,
rather than thinking of him according to the
biblical teaching as a divine person with a
human nature. The inevitable effect of the
popular acceptance of pictures of Jesus is to
overemphasize his humanity and to forget or
neglect his deity (which of course no picture
can portray). In dealing with an evil so
widespread and almost universally accepted, we
should bear a clear testimony against what we
believe to be wrong.” - Geerhardus Vos
“Thou
shalt not make any likeness of anything” for
use in worship. This categorical statement
rules out not simply the use of pictures and
statues, which depict God as an animal, but
also the use of pictures and statues, which
depict him as the highest created thing we
know as human. It also rules out the use of
pictures and statues of Jesus Christ as a man,
although Jesus himself was and remains man;
for all pictures and statues are necessarily
made after the “likeness” of ideal manhood as
we conceive it, and therefore come under the
ban which the commandment imposes.” -J.I.
Packer
“The
Second Commandment teaches us how we are to
worship. We are to worship God only as He had
commanded us to worship him. Anything that man
devises, invents, or imagines corrupts the
true reverence and worship of God. This
commandment is frequently violated when
Christians have pictures of Jesus. When it is
said that they are legitimate because they are
not used in worship, we reply that they are
not legitimate because one cannot have a
proper thought of feeling with respect to
Christ other than that of reverenced and
worship”. - G.I. Williamson
“Pictures
of Christ are in principle a violation of the
second commandment. A picture of Christ, if it
serves any useful purpose, must evoke some
thought or feeling respecting him and, in view
of what he is, this thought or feeling will be
worshipful. We cannot avoid making the picture
a medium of worship. But since the materials
for this medium of worship are not derived
from the only revelation we possess respecting
Jesus, namely, Scripture, the worship is
constrained by a creation of the human mind
that has no revelatory warrant. This is
will-worship. For the principle of the second
commandment is that we are to worship God only
in ways prescribed and authorized by him. It
is a grievous sin to have worship constrained
by a human figment, and that is what a picture
of the Saviour involves.” - John Murray
“Closely
akin to the use of images is that of pictures
of Christ. And these, we are sorry to say, are
often found in Protestant as well as Roman
Catholic churches. But nowhere in the Bible,
in either the Old or New Testament, is there a
description of Christ’s physical features. No
picture of Him was painted during His earthly
ministry. The church had no pictures of Him
during the first four centuries. The so-called
pictures of Christ, like those of Mary and the
saints, are merely the production of the
artist’s imagination. . . . No picture can do
justice to his personality, for he was not
only human, but divine. And no picture can
portray his deity. All such pictures are
fatally defective. . . . For most people the
so-called pictures of Christ are not an aid to
worship but rather a hindrance, and for many
they present a temptation to that very
idolatry against which the Scriptures warn so
clearly.” - Loraine Boettner
Notes:
1.Albert Barnes, THE AGES
DIGITAL LIBRARYCOMMENTARY, Barnes’
Notes on the Bible, Exodus, p. 73.
2.John Calvin, Calvin's
Commentaries, Exodus, Volume II (Grand
Rapids, Michigan, Baker Book House Reprinted
1979), pp.108-109.
3.Thomas Watson, The Ten
Commandments, (Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
Banner of Truth), pp. 59-60.
Mr. Kettler has previously
published articles in the Chalcedon Report
and Contra Mundum. He and his wife
Marea attend the Westminster, CO, RPCNA
Church. Mr. Kettler is the author of the book
defending the Reformed Faith against attacks,
titled: The Religion That Started in a
Hat. Available at:
www.TheReligionThatStartedInAHat.com