The Reformed Ninja

Having dealt elsewhere with the innovative nature of icon veneration as a historical phenomenon in the Medieval Eastern Church, it is also important to ask: What is John of Damascus’ fundamental argument in support of the veneration of icons? Looking especially at the first of his three treatises in defense of icons, focusing on paragraphs four through eight where he provides the foundation of his argument, and beginning with the Old Testament dispensation (i.e. prior to the Incarnation), his first syllogism is basically this: 1) In regards to God, one is not allowed to depict what is invisible. 2) God was invisible in the Old Testament dispensation. 3) Therefore, one could not depict God in the Old Testament dispensation. He argues that “it is impossible to depict God who is incommensurable and uncircumscribable and invisible” (1.7). For since God had not yet become Incarnate, it was implicitly impossible to depict His Person, for none of the means by which He had revealed Himself pr...