Stump the Priest: Did the Early Church Venerate Icons?

Fr. John Whiteford's News, Comments, & Reflections ^ | 12-31-2015 | Fr. John Whiteford

[NRx]

An Iconoclast removing an icon of Christ

Question: "Isn't the fact that there were controversies over icons well into the 9th century proof that the early Church did not venerate icons?"

There were indeed controversies at various times, most notably the Iconoclastic controversies of the 8th and 9th centuries, but these controversies were primarily focused on the question of whether one could have icons at all. Even the iconoclasts did not object to the veneration of the Cross, or other holy objects. Their problem with icons was that they considered them inherently objectionable, regardless of whether they were being venerated or not. In fact, there was never any movement of Christians that accepted iconography, but rejected their veneration, prior to the Protestant Reformation.

It is a matter of fact, only 30 years prior to the first iconoclastic controversy, icons were not a controversial issue, as is shown by the the fact that the Quinisext Council issued a canon about the content of certain icons, that shows no hint of the making of icons being a matter of any controversy:

"In some of the paintings of the venerable Icons, a lamb is inscribed as being shown or pointed at by the Forerunner's finger, which was taken to be a type of grace, suggesting beforehand through the law the true lamb to us Christ our God. Therefore, eagerly embracing the old types and shadows as symbols of the truth and preindications handed down to the Church, we prefer the grace, and accept it as the truth in fulfillment of the law. Since, therefore, that which is perfect even though it be but painted is imprinted in the faces of all, the Lamb who taketh away the sin of the world Christ our God, with respect to His human character, we decree that henceforth he shall be inscribed even in the Icons instead of the ancient lamb: through Him being enabled to comprehend the reason for the humiliation of the God Logos, and in memory of His life in the flesh and of His passion and of His soterial death being led by the hand, as it were, and of the redemption of the world which thence accrues" (Canon LXXXII of the Quinisext Council).

And it is also a fact that archaeological evidence shows the ubiquity of Christian iconography going back to the catacombs. Clearly those who objected to iconography were outside of the Christian mainstream. What made icons controversial in the 8th and 9th centuries was the rise of Islam, and the desire of the iconoclastic emperors to bring those who had converted to Islam back into the Christian fold -- and icons were seen as an obstacle to this. It is also not coincidental that the iconoclastic emperors all came from parts of the empire in which Islam had made significant inroads.

Furthermore, a closer look at the texts of Scripture show that the Israelites had extensive iconography in both the Tabernacle and then later in the Temple. You find images of cherubim:

• On the Ark -- Exodus 25:18
• On the Curtains of the Tabernacle -- Exodus 26:1
• On the Veil of the Holy of Holies -- Exodus 26:31
• In the Sanctuary -- 1 Kings 6:23
• On the Walls -- 1 Kings 6:29
• On the Doors -- 1 Kings 6:32
• And on the furnishings -- 1 Kings 7:29,36

When you add all these references together, it is clear that there were Icons everywhere you turned in Israelite worship.

But some will object: "Isn't bowing before an icon and kissing it forbidden by the Second Commandment?" The issue with respect to the 2nd commandment is what does the word translated "graven images" mean? If it simply means carved images, then the images in the temple would be in violation of this Commandment. Our best guide, however, to what Hebrew words mean, is what they meant to Hebrews -- and when the Hebrews translated the Bible into Greek, they translated this word simply as "eidoloi", i.e. "idols." Furthermore the Hebrew word pesel is never used in reference to any of the images in the temple. So clearly the reference here is to pagan images rather than images in general.

Let's look at what the Second Commandment actually says:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (i.e. idol), 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 shalt thou serve (worship) them..." (Exodus 20:4-5).

Now, if we take this as a reference to images of any kind, then clearly the cherubim in the Temple violate this command. If we limit this as applying only to idols, no contradiction exists. Furthermore, if this applies to all images -- then even the picture on a driver's license violates it, and is an idol. So either every Protestant with a driver's license is an idolater, or Icons are not idols.

Leaving aside, for the moment, the meaning of "graven images" lets simply look at what this text actually says about them. You shall not make x, you shall not bow to x, you shall not worship x. If x = image, then the Temple itself violates this Commandment. If x = idol and not all images, then this verse contradicts neither the Icons in the Temple, nor Orthodox Icons.

Abraham bowed himself before the people of Hebron (Genesis 23:7, 12); Joseph's brothers bowed before him (Genesis 42:6; 43:26, 28); and many other examples could be cited that show that bowing was an expression of respect, and bowing to idols is only objectionable because the object in question is in fact an idol, an image of a false deity. And kissing holy things is a very common act of devotion among Jews to this day (see: Kissing: An Act of Religious Devotion, by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin (From To Pray as a Jew: A Guide to the Prayer book and the Synagogue Service, (New York: Basic Books [Harper Collins], 1980), p.43f).

There is no reason we should assume that the early Christians would not likewise have bowed before and kissed holy things, like their Jewish forefathers. And icons of saints or Biblical scenes would have been given the same veneration that the texts of Scripture were given.

For more information see:

The Icon FAQ: Answers to common questions about icons (this article is especially important, and has extensive hyperlinks to other articles relevant to this question).

Stump the Priest: The Veneration of the Cross

[MayflowerMadam]

“Thou shalt not commit idolatry.”

[RobbyS]

Which is to say, do not sacrifice to the pagan gods. As the Bible tells us, many Israelites did. Even Moses had trouble with Israelites who referred to worship of the gods of Egypt. Solomon even allowed his foreign wives to put idols in the Holy Temple. The practice continued, at least during the times of the bad kings,to the end of the Temple.

[ZULU]

The iconoclastic movement was connected in part with pressure from Islam which has a far more ferocious opposition to ANY sort of image of any living creatures.

[CTrent1564]

NRx:

Nice article by this Orthodox Priest. This Catholic can’t find anything I disagreed with.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

bkmrk

[unlearner]

“In fact, there was never any movement of Christians that accepted iconography, but rejected their veneration, prior to the Protestant Reformation.”

The absence of something from the details of historical record does not mean that it did not exist. History is largely made up of things we cannot possibly know.

What we do know is that EVERY time in scripture that objects were bowed down to, and offered sacrifices and incense to, those objects, even if originally constructed under God’s command, had to be destroyed. Even the temple itself was destroyed by God twice because of the corruption of worship and the defilement it caused.

No movement is necessary until there becomes a problem with willful rejection and disobedience to the commands of God.

When the scriptures teach plainly that the serpent Moses lifted up for people to look (not bow to, or pray to, or offer sacrifices to) was commanded by God and yet had to be destroyed because it became and idol, how can the “church” refuse to acknowledge even the possibility or danger of icons becoming idols?

The New Testament also warns to flee idolatry. It does not say that relics and icons are so important that the idolatry command is trivial.

1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:14
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Nowhere does the Bible command Christians to use objects, icons, relics in worship (with the one exception of the perishable elements of communion). These are inventions of men. The Bible does not instruct the church about choirs, pews, stained glass windows, air conditioning, or even buildings of any kind. Does this mean they are wrong? No. But it does mean they are non-essential. And trying to make traditions of men into commands of God is the worse sort of false prophesying.

God did not forbid pictures, images, beautiful buildings and art. He did forbid bowing to them, praying toward them, and offering sacrifices to them. When these idolatrous practices happen, it becomes necessary to purge these objects because they defile God’s temple (the spiritual temple not made with hands).

And like God’s Spirit departed from the Old Testament temple because of the horrible corruption, God’s Spirit left the Catholic organization masquerading as the Church. He remained with His true church “outside the camp”.

See Ezekiel chapters 8-11.

[crumudgeonous]

Where did God forbid us from bowing before or kissing the texts of Scripture? The Jews do this, and apparently did not get the memo. They also kiss the mezuzah every time they go in and out of a doorway with one on it.

And while we have a command against bowing before idols (and also making them, or worshiping them), there is no command in the Old Testament or the New against bowing before or kissing a sacred image. In fact, the Bible commanded the Israelites to bow before the Ark, and that had two images on it.

[crumudgeonous]

And the problem with the Bronze serpent was that some Israelites were worshiping it as a deity, Nehushtan.

[cloudmountain]

Idolatry and veneration are different. We venerate saints but do not adore/worship them. We adore only God.

venerate: great respect; reverence; "the traditional veneration of saints"

[ealgeone]

Didn't God tell the Israelites to do this?

There's the difference.

[unlearner]

“Where did God forbid us from bowing before or kissing the texts of Scripture?”

Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Deuteronomy 5:9
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Is bowing always an act of worship? No. Can bowing be an act of worship? Yes. Is it possible for images of Christ, Mary, apostles, etc. to become idols? Yes. Is there any command of scripture to bow to images? No. Is there any prohibition against bowing to images? Yes. See above.

It is further disingenuous to make kissing a point of debate because I did not say kissing was prohibited. However, I will add that there is no instruction in scripture to kiss objects. Your bringing up of Jewish custom is salient. Jews were rebuked by Christ for ignoring the commands of God to keep their traditions. This is exactly what Catholic and Orthodox clergy do.

“In fact, the Bible commanded the Israelites to bow before the Ark, and that had two images on it.”

There is no such command. As I pointed out on a similar thread, if Psalm 99 has in mind bowing before the ark of the covenant, no one got to see the ark of the covenant except the High Priest once each year. And further, God actually met with men there. People would be bowing to God, not the ark. And this is part of the problem, apparently some people think God is meeting them at the images they are bowing toward, praying toward, and making offerings toward.

God destroyed His own temple twice because of similar idolatry and sacrilege. Apparently Catholic and Orthodox religious leaders did not learn from this error and seek to repeat it, justify it, and promote it.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

Israelites had extensive iconography

Yes, but the cherubim were decoration, they didn't address prayers to the them.

[unlearner]

“And the problem with the Bronze serpent was that some Israelites were worshiping it as a deity, Nehushtan.”

As I pointed out on the other thread: This fails to acknowledge the possibility and danger of helpful images and icons being turned into idols. Why can’t you admit it does happen, has happened, and acknowledge what the Biblical remedy to such behavior is?

[crumudgeonous]

You clearly did not bother reading the original post. If the second commandment is talking about all images, that means we cannot make or have them. So either you must oppose all images, or else you cannot apply that passage to anything that is not an idol.

The Ark is referred to as “the Footstool” of God’s feet:

“Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building” (1 Chronicles 28:2).

“We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength” (131[132]:7-8).

And the Psalms specifically command us to worship (literally, bow before) the Ark:

“Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet; for He is holy” (Psalm 98[99]:5).

And we see that the Israelites in fact did bow before the Ark:

“And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads” (Joshua 7:6).

People did see the ark when it was carried in processions. It may be that the ark was not carried in processions after the building of the Temple, but it was was so carried prior to that, and we have accounts of it, particularly with David dancing before the ark.

[crumudgeonous]

This is where proper instruction is necessary. The Church has made it very clear that icons are to be honored, but not worshiped. The Church has not had a problem with people getting confused on this. This is helped in part by the general practice of limiting iconography to two dimensional images.

[unlearner]

When the ark was not in the holiest of holies it was covered:

Numbers 4:6
Then they shall put on it a covering of badger skins, and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue; and they shall insert its poles.

They could not look on the ark itself. So when David refers to the ark this way, he is not contemplating himself or the people entering the holiest of holies nor uncovering the ark in procession.

Further, when Joshua bowed “before the ark” you are talking about a time when God was present in front of Israel in a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, and He would come down and meet in the tabernacle of meeting:

Exodus 33:9
And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

God does not dwell in a temple made by hands. He certainly does not dwell in crosses and images of “saints”.

“So either you must oppose all images, or else you cannot apply that passage to anything that is not an idol.”

I am not applying them to anything that is not an idol. When someone bows to the objects (not God who met with men above the mercy seat), when men pray toward them (not the temple which God put His name on and designated as a meeting place between God and man), and makes offerings such as incense and flowers to such objects (rather than the only sacrifices which God ordained to be offered to Him alone at the place He designated, in the time and manner which He designated), then such objects ARE IDOLS.

Apparently, our difference on this lies in what distinguishes an idol from any other random object. According to the theory you are putting forward, the acts themselves are not idolatry but only if the person thinks of an object as an idol. If that is not what you meant, then you need to clarify. My position is that the acts themselves turn the objects into idols even if the person knows that the image of Mary is just an image. This is because God said not to bow down to these images.

These acts are still idolatry regardless of the good intentions of the idolater.

But for sake of clarity, please answer whether it is possible for someone to commit idolatry by worshipping an image of Christ, Mary, or the apostles? Do you believe it CAN happen?

[crumudgeonous]

What historical facts do you have in mind? I think most Protestant Biblical Scholars would agree that this psalm is clear about the Ark. Look at verse 1, just for starters:

“The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubim; let the earth be moved.”

What do you suppose that is in reference to?

[crumudgeonous]

What makes an image an idol is when it is an image of a false god. Images of Christ, the Saints, or biblical scense are clearly not images of false Gods. We honor these images in the same way that we honor the Gospel book, and for the same reason.

Do you object to saluting your flag, or pledging allegiance to it? Why is that not idolatry, in your opinion?

[crumudgeonous]

And to answer you last question, if someone was sacrificing chickens before an icon, that would be idolatry. If they believe the image itself was a god, that would be idolatry. The only example I am aware of of something like that would be in Santeria, but there you have Christian images being used to worship pagan deities.