How do visual images from the ancient world throw light on New Testament texts? In a methodologically sophisticated manner, the contributions in this volume investigate early Christian images with regard to the ancient context.

How do visual images from the ancient world shed light on New Testament texts? In a methodologically multifaceted manner, the contributions in this volume examine early Christian images with regard to their ancient context. Various New Testament texts (the synoptic gospels, the Johannine and Pauline corpora) are linked to ancient visual images. Various approaches in iconography are summarized and applied to the interpretation of texts, taking account of the strengths and limitations of these images, as well as possible future applications. These essays incorporate current viewpoints from archaeology and the history of art. The topics range from studies of the depictions of Christ and the disciples to the images of humans and the world. This volume provides an innovative basis for the discussion of the iconographic method and the New Testament.

Autorentext
Born 1967; Professor of Exegesis and Theology of New Testament at the Faculty of Theology at the Martin-Luther-University and director of the Institute »Corpus Hellenisticum«, University of Halle-Wittenberg. Born 1976; studies of theology in Bethel and Heidelberg; currently working at the University of Heidelberg. Born 1957; studies of theology in Neuendettelsau, Heidelberg, Montpellier and Erlangen; 1989 Ph.D.; Prof. at the University of Augsburg.

Inhalt
Methods of Iconography
Annette Weissenrieder and Friederike Wendt : Images as Communication. Introduction into the Methods of Iconography
Synoptic Gospels and Acts
Rita Amedick : "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaiorum". Hellenistische Königsikonographie und das Neue Testament - David L. Balch : Zeus, Vengeful Protector of the Political and Domestic Order. Frescoes in Dining Rooms N and P of the House of the Vetii in Pompeii, Mark 13: 12-13, and I Clement 6:2 - Annette Weissenrieder and Friederike Wendt : "Warum schlaft ihr?" (Lk 22,46). Überlegungen zum Jüngerbild in Lk 22,39-46 im Lichte ikonographischer und medizinhistorischer Quellen - Annette Weissenrieder : "He is a God!" Acts 28:1-9 in the Light of Iconographical and Textual Sources Related to Medicine
Corpus Iohanneum
Petra von Gemünden : Weisheitliche Bilderkonstellationen im Johannesevangelium? Einige strukturelle Überlegungen - Gabriele Elsen-Novák and Mirko Novák : "Ich bin der wahre Weinstock und mein Vater ist der Weingärtner". Zur Semiotik des Weinstocks in Joh 15,1-8 aus Sicht der Altorientalistik - Petra von Gemünden : Die Palmzweige in der johanneischen Einzugsgeschichte (Joh 12,13). Ein Hinweis auf eine symbolische Uminterpretation im Johannesevangelium? - Hanna Roose : The Fall of the "Great Harlot" and the Fate of the Aging Prostitute. An Iconographic Approach to Revelation 18 - Reinhard von Bendemann : "Lebensgeist kam in sie ... ". Der Ezechielzyklus von Dura Europos und die Rezeption von Ez 37 in der Apk des Johannes. Ein Beitrag zum Verhältnisproblem von Ikonizität und Narrativität
Corpus Paulinum
C. Kavin Rowe : New Testament Iconography? Situating Paul in the Absence of Material Evidence - Annette Weissenrieder : Der Blick in den Spiegel. II Kor 3,18 vor dem Hintergrund antiker Spiegeltheorien und ikonographischer Abbildungen - Sigrid Brandt : Jesus Christus - Gottes Bild und Bild des Bildes. Auf dem Weg zu einer "imagologischen" Näherbestimmung der christologischen Zweinaturenlehre - Philip F. Esler : Paul and the Agon. Understanding a Pauline Motif in Its Cultural and Visual Context - Harry O. Maier : Barbarians, Scythians and Imperial Iconography in the Epistle to the Colossians