Signs, Symbols and Serpents

• Graydon F. Snyder, ANTE PACEM. Archaeological Evidence of Church Life before Constantine (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2003).

Early Christian images

• Lamb• Vase• Boat• Orante• Bread• Fish

• Anchor• Dove• Olive branch• Palm• Good Shepherd• Vine and grapes

Some References

• Robin Jensen, Understanding Christian Art (London and New York: Routledge 2000)

• Tertullian, 2nd - 3rd century, Latin• Epistle of Barnabas (among the Apostolic

Fathers – ET in Pelican, Early Christian Writings)

• Cyprian, later 3rd century, Latin• Justin Martyr, I Apology, mid-2nd century, Rome

but writing in Greek• Minucius Felix, 2nd - 3rd century apologist, Latin• Ephrem Syrus, Syriac poet, 4th century

• John 10.15, I Cor. 5.7, John 1.29.• Lactantius, 3rd – 4th century, Latin• Abraham and Isaac – in Epistle of Barnabas,

Melito’s Peri Pascha, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement and Origen, Ambrose, Ephrem, John Chrysostom, Paulinus of Nola, Gregory of Nyssa, Theodoret and Augustine (Jensen’s list)

• Moses against Amalek (Exodus 17.8-13) – Epistle of Barnabas 12, Justin, Dialogue with Trypho 90.

More References

• Numbers 21.4-9 & John 3.14

• Epistle of Barnabas 12

• Justin, Dialogue with Trypho 91

• Irenaeus, Against Heresies IV.2

• Tertullian, Against Marcion II.22– Against Heresies II

• Gregory Nazianzus, Oration 45.22

• Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit 31– Letters 260.8

• Theodoret, Eranistes III

• Ambrose, On Duties III.15.94

Gnosticism

• Plērōma

• Sophia

• Bythos

• Gnōsis

• Achamōth

• Demiurge

• Sōma - sēma

Serpents and Wisdom

• Asclepius• The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead• Naas• Ophis• Naasenes or Ophites• Ben Sira = Ecclesiasticus• Philo• Epistle of Diognetus

Christ as Wisdom

• I Corinthians 1.24

• Colossians 1.15-20

• Cf. Proverbs 8.22-31

• John 3.14

• Cf. Numbers 21.5-9

References

• I Corinthians chapters 1-2; cf. Isaiah 29.14• Job 28• Ezekiel 28• Philippians 2.6-8• F. C. Burkitt, Church and Gnosis (CUP

1932, pbk 2011)• Hybris, nemesis• Romans 7.19, 5.14ff, I Cor.1.18ff, 2.8.