Unknown Byzantine artist

Byzantine Icon of Christ, 11th–13th century, Miniature mosaic, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence; inv. No. 3, Scala / Ministero per i Beni e le Attività culturali / Art Resource, NY

And the Word was God

Commentary by Jacopo Gnisci

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The opening verse of the Gospel of John refers to Jesus as the ‘Word’, from the Greek logos, a title also used in the book of Revelation (19:13). In this verse, John says that the ‘Word was with God’ (1:1) to assert that Jesus—as one person of the Trinity—is not to be confused with the Father while yet also being indivisible from him. 

In a biblical context, ‘Word’ can have various meanings. It can be used to refer to Christ himself or to a command or speech given by God. In Genesis, for example, God’s speech brings the world into existence (1:3–26); in Exodus God speaks in ‘words’ to give Moses his Commandments (20:1); and in the First Epistle to the Thessalonians Paul asserts that ‘when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe’ (2:13).

Byzantine artists drew inspiration from the Bible, and especially the Gospel of John, to present sophisticated representations of what logos might encompass. This is showcased by this mosaic icon which was once in the collection of Lorenzo the Magnificent (Bacci 2008). The icon, which features a portrait of Jesus against a gold background, alludes to the Word of God in three ways: the tips of the middle and ring fingers of Christ’s right hand touch the tip of his thumb, in a gesture that symbolizes the voice of God (Trumble 2010: 54); his left hand holds an open Gospel book that stands for God’s written command; and, finally, Christ himself is proof that ‘the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us’ (John 1:14).

Each of these three elements stands in a metonymic relationship to the other components of the icon and to the Trinity as a whole. The gold tesserae of the icon reflect the light to draw in observers and remind them that Jesus as ‘the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world’ (John 1:9), while the cross in Christ’s halo foreshadows his Crucifixion which occurred because ‘the world did not recognize him’ (1:10).

 

References

Bacci, Michele. 2008. ‘Micromosaic with Christ Pantokrator’, in Byzantium, 330–1453, ed. by Robin Cormack and Maria Vassiliki (London: Royal Academy of Arts)

Trumble, Angus. 2010. The Finger: A Handbook (Victoria: Melbourne University Press)

See full exhibition for John 1:1–13

John 1:1–13

Revised Standard Version

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God; 3all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

9 The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. 11He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

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