The Tree of Death and Life from the Missal of the Archbishop of Salzburg.
The tree has played an important part in Christian symbolism. In general, the tree is a symbol of either life or death, depending upon whether it is healthy and strong, or poorly nourished and withered. —George Ferguson
The biblical message of salvation extended across thousands of years, from one tree to another. In paintings and sculptures of Adam and Eve, artists featured the tree from which Eve plucked fruit and offered it to her husband. Christians believed this disobedience—sampling from a God-forbidden tree—plunged humanity into sin and cast the couple out of the Garden of Eden.
The third-century Church Father, Tertullian, commented on this far-reaching act: “Man was condemned to death for tasting the fruit of one poor tree. From that, there proceeded sins with their penalties. And now all are perishing, even though they have never seen a single sod of Paradise.”
In the fifteenth-century Missal of Archbishop of Salzburg, an artist created an intriguing painting of the first couple’s disobedience. In
The Tree of Death and Life the forbidden tree stood between a naked and sorrowful Adam and Eve. A skull hung from the tree’s branches, foretelling death’s punishment for them and future generations. But with a creative twist, the unknown artist also hung a crucifix from the garden’s tree. He painted the despair and hope of that moment.
The artist knew hope resided in another tree, the cross of Christ’s crucifixion. Biblical writers and early Church fathers referred to these two wood beams as a tree. In the first century Paul the apostle described how Christ’s tree supported redemption. He wrote, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Gal. 3:13). A century later the apologist Irenaeus explained, “By means of a tree, we were made debtors to God. Likewise, by means of a tree we can obtain the remission of our debt.” Spiritually, Christians depended on trees.
Practically, people from the Age of Faith also relied on trees in their workaday lives. They needed wood to build homes, prepare meals, and generate warmth. Consequently, they recognized the trees and bushes symbolized in Christian art. But ultimately, all branches recalled the Tree that secured their salvation.
To learn more about tree symbolism, purchase The Art of Faith by Judith Couchman at www.paracletepress.com. For a 25 percent discount, use the code Judith 25 when you check out.
The biblical message of salvation extended across thousands of years, from one tree to another. In paintings and sculptures of Adam and Eve, artists featured the tree from which Eve plucked fruit and offered it to her husband. Christians believed this disobedience—sampling from a God-forbidden tree—plunged humanity into sin and cast the couple out of the Garden of Eden.
The third-century Church Father, Tertullian, commented on this far-reaching act: “Man was condemned to death for tasting the fruit of one poor tree. From that, there proceeded sins with their penalties. And now all are perishing, even though they have never seen a single sod of Paradise.”
In the fifteenth-century Missal of Archbishop of Salzburg, an artist created an intriguing painting of the first couple’s disobedience. In
The Tree of Death and Life the forbidden tree stood between a naked and sorrowful Adam and Eve. A skull hung from the tree’s branches, foretelling death’s punishment for them and future generations. But with a creative twist, the unknown artist also hung a crucifix from the garden’s tree. He painted the despair and hope of that moment.
The artist knew hope resided in another tree, the cross of Christ’s crucifixion. Biblical writers and early Church fathers referred to these two wood beams as a tree. In the first century Paul the apostle described how Christ’s tree supported redemption. He wrote, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Gal. 3:13). A century later the apologist Irenaeus explained, “By means of a tree, we were made debtors to God. Likewise, by means of a tree we can obtain the remission of our debt.” Spiritually, Christians depended on trees.
Practically, people from the Age of Faith also relied on trees in their workaday lives. They needed wood to build homes, prepare meals, and generate warmth. Consequently, they recognized the trees and bushes symbolized in Christian art. But ultimately, all branches recalled the Tree that secured their salvation.
To learn more about tree symbolism, purchase The Art of Faith by Judith Couchman at www.paracletepress.com. For a 25 percent discount, use the code Judith 25 when you check out.
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