Words, images and the Bible

By Fr. Leo Pabayo

WHAT an image signifies is what matters. Moses’ use of the image of the serpent is proof of this. The fact that the serpent is generally regarded by people as repulsive and fearsome proves all the more that an image of anything in God’s creation can be used for a good purpose. If people use them for a bad purpose like making them into idols that is their problem.

If a repulsive image like that of a serpent can be used for a good purpose how much more would a beautiful image lend itself for a good purpose. That would be true for all images that are good whether they were carved, molded or painted. That would be true especially with images that raise the mind and heart to God. St. Paul said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable––if anything is excellent or praiseworthy––think about such things. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Phillipians 4:8).

Those who abide by these words of Paul would not only think these good thoughts but communicate these for the benefit of others.

The most elementary way of communicating is by images and sounds. That is what we do when we speak and write. We make sounds and form images.  The written words were originally images that were reshaped, streamlined, abbreviated, into what we call letters or characters. The first words and letters that man learned to write must have been like the first images that a child in the kindergarten learns to make.

The first images that found their way in man’s primitive writing were probably images of plants, animals and people. These were etched or painted on stones and later on parchments or papers. The first highly developed images made by primitive man were most probably like those that were discovered by archaeologists in a cave in France.

Examples of how written words originated from images that were drawn, carved or molded were the Egyptian hieroglyphics and the Chinese characters.

For the believer the most meaningful and beautiful images are those that tell the story of creation and of salvation. The story of creation and of salvation is what the Bible is all about. Without the images which evolved into letters and characters there would not have been a written Bible.

Historians and archaeologists say the words of the Bible were first spoken before they were written. They were most likely first spoken before camp fires and in tents by the leaders of a nomadic people who experienced God’s abiding presence in their lives and believed in him. The leaders of this people proclaimed that they were chosen by God to make known to world that he is the one true God in whom the salvation of mankind lies. Their greatest leader was Moses. Moses put into writing what were spoken by God to him and to the ancestors of this people, like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses wrote them for the instruction to this chosen people. Subsequent writings in various literary genres were of the same teachings of as Moses. They are found in the various books of what is called the Old Testament part of the Bible.