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영어

This study examines how images depicting Christ's baptism and doctrines concerning the nature of Jesus Christ are formed and developed in mutual correlation. Jesus Christ is the only being who is both divine and human, united in him as the Savior. This study focuses on how the understanding of the nature of Jesus Christ was expressed in the writings of the Church Fathers, who shaped early Christian theology, and how it was illustrated in early Christian art. The interrelationship between these two aspects will be examined. To this end, it will examine the development of Christology from the 3rd to the 6th century, along with the Christ’s baptismal imagery. Baptism is generally understood as cleansing from sins and the beginning of belonging to the ecclesial community. If that is the case, why did sinless Christ receive baptism? This theological paradox was a significant question in the early Christian period, and the Church Fathers left behind various writings to address it. At the same time, early Christian artists left behind numerous works on the theme of Christ's baptism. First, this study will delve into how the union of the divine and human natures is understood and explained in the writings of the Church Fathers, focusing on Church Fathers such as Irenaeus, Basil, and Origen. Meanwhile, to explore early Christian art, the focus will be on scenes depicting the baptism of Christ, as illustrated in catacomb, sarcophagus reliefs, and mosaics, examining how the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ are portrayed. To identify images depicting Christ's baptism, we will focus on three key elements: size, age, and physical characteristics. For instance, portrayals of Christ as a child highlight his genuine humanity, while the dove symbolizes the divine Spirit. Additionally, the feminized representation of Christ in the Arian baptistery invites reflections on divine maternity and inclusive anthropology. In this way, the images of baptism that appear in early Christian art not only served to explain doctrine and internalize theology visually, but also helped believers more easily understand and profess doctrines such as the Trinity and Christology, which are difficult to explain in words. It is an important example showing that early Christian theology was not limited to linguistic and literary discourse but was also firmly established in the areas of worship, art, space, and imagery.