Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of artistry and creativity is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative, reflecting the nature of God as the ultimate Creator. The Bible opens with the account of creation, where God intricately designs the universe, showcasing His artistic prowess.
Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This act of creation is the first demonstration of divine artistry, setting a precedent for human creativity.
Human beings, made in the image of God (
Genesis 1:27), inherit this creative aspect. The Bible acknowledges and celebrates human artistry in various forms, from craftsmanship to music and poetry. In
Exodus 31:2-5, God specifically appoints Bezalel, filling him "with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft." This passage highlights the divine endorsement and empowerment of artistic skills for the purpose of worship and the beautification of sacred spaces.
The construction of the Tabernacle and later the Temple involved detailed artistic work, as seen in the intricate designs and materials used. In
1 Kings 6, Solomon's Temple is described with elaborate carvings and gold overlays, demonstrating the importance of artistry in creating a space worthy of God's presence.
Music and poetry are also significant artistic expressions in the Bible. The Book of Psalms is a collection of poetic songs that express a wide range of human emotions and experiences in relation to God. David, known as a skilled musician and poet, composed many of these psalms. In
1 Samuel 16:23, it is noted that "whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him." This illustrates the power of music as a form of artistic expression that can bring comfort and spiritual relief.
The prophetic books often employ vivid imagery and symbolic language, showcasing the artistic use of words to convey divine messages. The Book of Isaiah, for example, is renowned for its poetic and metaphorical language, painting pictures of both judgment and hope.
In the New Testament, artistry continues to be valued. The Apostle Paul, in
Ephesians 2:10, refers to believers as God's "workmanship," created in Christ Jesus for good works. The Greek word used here, "poiema," can be understood as a work of art, indicating that believers themselves are expressions of God's creative work.
Artistic expression, therefore, is not only a reflection of God's character but also a means through which humans can participate in His creative work, glorify Him, and edify others. The Bible affirms the value of artistry in various forms, recognizing it as a gift from God to be used for His purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Alt. of Artistical.
Strong's Hebrew
4748. miqsheh -- (anartistic) hairdo... 4747, 4748. miqsheh. 4749 . (an
artistic) hairdo. Transliteration: miqsheh
Phonetic Spelling: (mik-sheh') Short Definition: hair.
...2805. chesheb -- ingenious work
... Word Origin from chashab Definition ingenious work NASB Word Usageartistic band
(1), skillfully woven band (5), woven band (2). curious girdle....
Library
Gifts and Talents.
... the perpetual progress of the same great work being accomplished according to the
same majestic plan, through successive generations, allartistic skill and...
Letter viii. Who are the Cultivated?
... see it. They are like a person lacking in allartistic sense, who wishes
to buy pictures"at the mercy of every impostor. What, then...
Concluding Remarks on the Importance of Orthodoxy
... cool and cynical art-critic, any art-critic fully impressed with the conviction
that artists were greatest when they were most purelyartistic, suppose that a...
On the Wit of Whistler
... Theartistic temperament is a disease that afflicts amateurs.... But the great tragedy
of theartistic temperament is that it cannot produce any art....
Grecian Literature, and the Roman Empire.
... clear and free consciousness of manhood, boldly investigated the laws of nature
and of spirit, and carried out the idea of beauty in all sorts ofartistic forms...
Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
... on a larger scale, and of more massive construction, but the enormous masses of
masonry of the oldest nations were not comparable with theartistic grace, the...
The Book of God
... for its own apart from the substance; but to say that the Bible holds its throne
as the Book of books simply because of the superiority of itsartistic form is...
Biographies of Musicians.
... Baltimore) says: "It gives in vigorous outlines those events of the life of the
tone poet which exercised the greatest influences upon hisartistic career."....
Elijah Come Again
... If we were considering a fictitious story, we should note theartistic skill which
prepared for the appearance of the hero by the introduction first of his...
Introductory Remarks on the Importance of Orthodoxy
... Our newartistic philosophers call for the same moral license, for a freedom to
wreck heaven and earth with their energy; but the upshot of it all is that a...
Thesaurus
Artistic (14 Occurrences)...Artistic (14 Occurrences).
... (DBY). Exodus 28:6 and shall make the ephod of gold, blue,
and purple, scarlet and twined byssus, of
artistic work. (DBY).
...Byssus (40 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:1 And thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of twined byssus,
and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim ofartistic work shalt thou...
Images (158 Occurrences)
... Until comparatively recent times, the Hebrews seem to have offered no religious
objection to "artistic" images, as is proved not only from the description of...
Artificer (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Anartistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one whose occupation requires
skill or knowledge of a particular kind, as a silversmith....
Assyria (124 Occurrences)
... by sculptured slabs. In the bas-reliefs discovered at Nineveh three periods
ofartistic progress may be traced. Under Assur-nazir...
Copper (55 Occurrences)
... put water in it. (DBY). Exodus 31:4 to deviseartistic work to work in gold,
and in silver, and in copper, (DBY). Exodus 35:5 Take...
Phoenicians
... Articles forartistic purposes are not of high value, although the pillars named
Jachin and Boaz, the molten sea, the bases, layers and other articles cast by...
Phoenicia (6 Occurrences)
... Articles forartistic purposes are not of high value, although the pillars named
Jachin and Boaz, the molten sea, the bases, layers and other articles cast by...
Value (138 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) In anartistic composition, the character of any one part in its relation
to other parts and to the whole; -- often used in the plural; as, the values...
Laver (13 Occurrences)
... portions of the burnt offerings. The lavers themselves wereartistic works
of unusual merit for that age. Like that in the tabernacle...
Resources
What should be the Christian perspective on nudity in art? | GotQuestions.orgDid Jesus have long hair? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about art? | GotQuestions.orgArtistic: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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