Do you think the 2nd Commandment forbids images of Jesus?

Question

It says: "Do not make a sculpted image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above..."

This is usually understood to refer to any likenss of God, as well. But what about God incarnate? Cathlics and Protestants have historically disagreed on this, but I am not sure.

Answer 1

how can anyone make an accurate likeness of Jesus?
It is pattently impossible. As no likenesses were made of him during his time on earth, any created image would be purely artistic. And hence, innacurate, and as such, would be at the very least deceptive, and at the very most blasphemy!\
In addition, there was never a command to make such an image, there is no Biblical record of Jesus followers making an image of him and no reason to do so.
Jesus did however command his followers to be preachers and to make disciples. An activity that is completely absent from most of those today that claim to be Christian.



()()

Answer 2

The entire issue of Jesus has been debated based on he 1st Commandment. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods beside Me. The commandment is pretty specific and makes no mention of Jesus or the son of God. I know that the New Testament does, but that still doesn't answer the question you asked. Stay away from idols. The Hebrews freed from Egypt fell into the abyss of idolatry and paid a deep price for it.

Answer 3

I've always assumed this refers to idols, since there were images of the heavenly seraphim for the mercy seat (I think it's called the mercy seat) in the temple. And there were also cherubim, if I'm not mistaken, carved in the temple...and these according to God's instructions.

Protestants have generally kept all such 'decoration' to a minimum inside the sanctuary or church. Catholics have been more liberal in this. But I really don't see it as a matter of commandment....but then I'm not exactly a theologian.

Hoping the best for you...

Answer 4

The key point to the commandment is not to worship such images. It could hardly mean literally not to make such images since the scriptures themselves gave detailed instructions on the construction of the ark of the covenant and the temple which did include images of what is in the heavens above.

Answer 5

they could develop into an Idol; social gathering even as Israel got here out of Egypt , They entered right into a tribulation ,Snakes were Killing them; God recommended Moses make a likeness of Serpent position in an section the position all and sundry it quite is Bitten through Snakes can seem at it ,they received't Die; Now flow from that element till Hezekiah grew to develop into King ; about 700 years ; This Bronze Serpent had develop into Sin because the individuals were providing Incense, a kind of Worship,Hezekiah had this challenge taken out and damaged to products; 2 nd. Kings ch 18; So the challenge that had extra human beings in the desert, Had develop right into a Curse;

Answer 6

Of course it doesn't. It is an admonition against idolatry, not statuary. If you worship a statue, then yes, that is addressed in the scripture. But what fool would do that? If you use such images to call to mind the One you love and worship - much as we use pictures of our other loved ones to help us call them to mind - that is obviously a worthwhile and godly practice. Do you think that every Christian who wears a sculpted image of a cross on a chain is an idolater??

Answer 7

It doesn't matter what the 2nd....or even the whole 10 commandments say. God had nothing to do with that list of archaic rules. Man made that...maybe Moses, if he actually existed. The Old Testament is full of nonsense and baloney, as it was written by a bunch of ignorant men who were inspired, not by God, but by superstition and paganism.

Answer 8

Since Jesus is the flesh image of God, there does seem to be a real issue here.

I see no allowance for this in the wording of the original commandment.

The Catholic Catechism treats the matter like this:

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT


I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a 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; you shall not bow down to them or serve them.3
It is written: "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve."4

I. "YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND HIM ONLY SHALL YOU SERVE"

The Catholc church dealt with the matter of Jesus' image in a church council, and decided that the prohibition against images was an old testament law, and had expired.

Our new testament understanding, illuminated by the light of Christ, tells us there's no longer any inherant evil contained in images, only in their improper use.

Those who cite old testament law on this, deliberately ignore the authority Jesus gave to his church to rule on these, and all other matters of faith, and ignore the truth of nt scripture, which clearly states that we're not bound any longer by the old law.

Answer 9

heres another way to look at it, the Jewish translation and enumeration of the first 3 of the 10 commandments is as such:

(Deuteronomy 5:6-9)
First: "I am HaShem thy G-d, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. "
Second: "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. "
Third: "Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, even any manner of likeness, of any thing 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 unto them, nor serve them; " (the reasoning of why this is so is the remainder of 9 and verse 10)

while of course, this is not DIRECTLY an answer to your question... well, it might be useful to you.


edit, for below:
>>"If you use such images to call to mind the One you love and worship - much as we use pictures of our other loved ones to help us call them to mind - that is obviously a worthwhile and godly practice."<<

then why nowhere in the OT does god tolerate that behavior? why are you unable to worship without an image? having an image will lead people to worship that image.
how many christians do you think when they pray, see Jesus as who they are praying to? that IS idolotry.

>>"Do you think that every Christian who wears a sculpted image of a cross on a chain is an idolater?? "<<

plain crosses? not so much, but a little. crucifixes... pretty much.

Answer 10

Personally I think the stricture is because of the fear of the worship of idols, etc.
I'm a Catholic Christian and we do have statues of many saints that we use as a reminder of their complete devotion to God. By seeing the statues, we are reminded of their belief and total faith in God and we are urged to emulate them; we don't worship them for their own sake. They're a tool, if you will.