Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

corpus-paul - Iconography of Paul with sword

corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Corpus-Paul

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Paul Kiler <pkiler AT earthlink.net>
  • To: Corpus-paul <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Iconography of Paul with sword
  • Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2001 21:19:13 -0800


From: "Krist Krist" <monsieurK AT hotmail.com>
Subject: [corpus-paul] Iconography of Paul with sword

Paul's attribute is a sword, the instrument of his martyrdom.
>> But I am wondering if this iconography cannot be also interpreted as an
>> allusion to his words in several Epistles, comparing the Word of God to a
>> sword and enticing Christians to assume the arms of faith, etc. Does
>> anyone have any info on this
topic?


Hi,... well, my last post apparently didn't go through, So I will post it
again...

First off, take my opinion cum grano salis, I am but a humble
Artist/Pastor/Missionary/idiot.

Well, I just looked up one of my sources, and even though I cannot say much
towards the heterodox
question, I though that just retelling this information may be of some help
to our mysterious inquisitor.

From Christian Symbols and Stories of the Saints, by Clara Erskine Clement,
Ticknor and Company,
Boston, 1886, comes this quote from the entry for Paul:

"Paul bears the sword in a double sense, signifying his spiritual warfare
and the manner of his death.
He also has a book or scroll, and sometimes twelve rolls, representing his
epistles. When he leans on his
sword, it is his death that is represented; when he holds it aloft, is
signifies the 'good fight' which he
fought. If two swords are given him, both the manner of his death and that
of his life are signified."

And from Church Symbolism, An explanation of the more important symbols of
the Old and New
Testament, The Primitive, The Mediaeval and the Modern Church, by F.R.
Webber, J.H Hansen,
Cleveland, 1938, comes this clip:

"This great Apostle's shield is often shown along with the other Apostles.
The most common form by far
is an open Bible bearing the words 'Spiritus Gladius', and behind the Bible a
Sword of the Spirit, cross-
hilted.This is a familiar device often carved in stone over doorways of
churches bearing his name.
<clip>
A third form shows two swords saltire."

I didn't bother to look up anything else, I have an entire bookshelf of books
on Christian Symbolism, if
anybody is interested, let me know.

Only by His Marvelous Grace,
Paul Kiler
Art as Servant - Ministries to Artists
Santa Fe, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page