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Jesus' Parables for Disciples

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Old Testament
Abraham
Jacob
Moses
Joshua
Gideon
David, Life of
Elijah
Psalms
Songs of Ascent (Ps 120-135)
Isaiah
Advent/Messianic Scriptures
Daniel
Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books

Gospels
Christmas Incarnation (Mt, Lk)
Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7)
Mark
Luke's Gospel
John's Gospel
7 Last Words of Christ
Parables
Jesus and the Kingdom
Resurrection

Acts
The Early Church (Acts 1-12)
Apostle Paul (Acts 12-28)

Paul's Epistles
Christ Powered Life (Rom 5-8)
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Vision for Church (Eph)
Philippians
Colossians, Philemon
1 & 2 Thessalonians
1 & 2 Timothy, Titus

General Epistles
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter, Jude
1, 2, and 3 John

Revelation
Revelation
Conquering Lamb of Revelation

Topical
Glorious Kingdom, The
Grace
Great Prayers
Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide
Lamb of God
Listening for God's Voice
Lord's Supper
Names of God
Names of Jesus

Christian Art

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In the earliest Christian art, there are no depictions of Jesus, except symbolically, as the Good Shepherd and others. The Good Shepherd as an image of Jesus persisted until about 500 AD.

Inscriptions with Good Shepherd

Inscription dedicated by parents of deceased 7 year old girl, Apuleia Crysopolis; Good Shepherd and bush (Catacomb of St. Callisto, Rome). Another.

• Gravestone for Mouses and his wife (Rome, 3rd century A.D.), Pio Cristiano Museum, Vatican. Shows Orante and Good shepherd, with a sheep at his feet.
• Good Shepherd inscription
• Good shepherd on tombstone in the catacomb of Domitilla
• Rilievo del buon pastore, third century, Catacomb of Pretestato, Rome.
• Good shepherd, Chi-Rho, swastika, anchor, fish, and ichthus from Catacombs of St. Sebastian, Rome

Christ as the Good Shepherd is found as a fresco in the Crypts of Lucina, ceiling of the Cubiculum of the Good Shepherd, catacomb of Callixtus in Rome (mid-third century).

Frescos of the Good Shepherd

• Catacomb fresco of Christ as the Good Shepherd
• Good Shepherd, fresco, third century, Catacombs of Priscilla, Cubiculum of the "Velatio"
• Fresco of Good Shepherd, Coemeterium Majus catacomb, Rome
• Good Shepherd (Buon Pastore) with two sheep in paradise, fresco Catacomb of Priscilla, third century. Another. Another. Another.
• A Good Shepherd wall painting decorates the room of a private house in Dura-Europos (modern Salhiyeh), Syria, adapted for the use of a Christian congregation. It would hold about 100 people, with a small platform for the bishop and a baptistry. (Moved in the 1930s to the Yale University Museum.). Another. Another. Cutaway plan.

 

Detail of the central shepherd from the Sarcophagus of the Good Shepherd, Catacomb of Praetextatus, Rome, 390s AD. Full sarcophagus.

Good Shepherd Sarcophagi

• Good Shepherd Sarcophagus, from the Catacomb of Praetextatus, Rome, 390s AD, marble. Lateran museum (later moved to Pio Cristiano Museo). Lots of grapes and vines. Detail, detail, BW, BW  Detail shows angels harvesting grapes from the vine emanating from Christ.
• Good shepherd sarcophagus, Vatican #181, c.250-275, Rome. Another.
• Sarcofago con il Buon Pastore, in marmo pario, 260-270 d.c., da Via Salaria, Roma, Musei Naz. Romano
• Sarcophagus with the Good Shepherd and the Apostles, Pio Cristiano Museum, Vatican.
• Sarcophagus of the Good Shepherd, 310 to 315 AD, Solin, a Salonitan workship, dressed marbal.
• Shepherds at ends of sarcophagus, Brooks Museum
• Good Shepherd and Four Seasons, early fourth century.

Several depictions of Christ as the Good Shepherd.

Statue of the Good Shepherd (third century), 39" high, marble, from the Catacomb of Domitilla, now in Museo Pio Cristino, Vatican.

Mosaic of the Good Shepherd

Christ as the Good Shepherd, the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, c. 425 - 426. Mosaic.

Statue of the Good Shepherd

• Statue of the Good Shepherd,  Third century, marble, 39"H., Rome, from Catacomb of Domitilla, Vatican, Museo Pio Cristiano. Another. Another. Another. Another.
• Christ as Good Shepherd, 3rd century, Cleveland Museum of Art

Storia Libera.it, press "continue to see more.

 

Copyright © 2023, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastorjoyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

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Discipleship for New Believers


In-depth Bible study books

You can purchase one of Dr. Wilson's complete Bible studies in PDF, Kindle, or paperback format -- currently 48 books in the JesusWalk Bible Study Series.

Old Testament

1. Abraham, Faith of
2. Jacob, Life of
3. Moses the Reluctant Leader
4. Joshua
5. Gideon
6. David, Life of
7. Elijah
8. Psalms
9. Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134)
10. Isaiah
11. 28 Advent Scriptures (Messianic)
12. Daniel
13. Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books

Gospels

14. Christmas Incarnation (Mt, Lk)
15. Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7)
16. Luke's Gospel
17. John's Gospel
18. Seven Last Words of Christ
19. Parables
20. Jesus and the Kingdom of God
21. Resurrection and Easter Faith

Acts

22. Early Church (Acts 1-12)
23. Apostle Paul (Acts 11-28)

Pauline Epistles

24. Romans 5-8 (Christ-Powered Life)
25. 1 Corinthians
26. 2 Corinthians
27. Galatians
28. Ephesians
29. Philippians
30. Colossians, Philemon
31. 1 & 2 Thessalonians
32. 1 &2 Timothy, Titus

General Epistles

33. Hebrews
34. James
35. 1 & 2 Peter, Jude
36. 1, 2, and 3 John

Revelation

37. Revelation
38. Conquering Lamb of Revelation

Topical

39. Glorious Kingdom, The
40. Grace: Favor for the Undeserving
41. Great Prayers of the Bible
42. Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide
43. JesusWalk: Beginning the Journey
44. Lamb of God
45. Listening for God's Voice
46. Lord's Supper: Disciple's Guide
47. Names and Titles of God
48. Names and Titles of Jesus

My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.