Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles found
 

Does anyone find the irony in this posting by the con Apostolic news outlet on the web ... ????

The oldest known image of the apostles Andrew and John have been discovered in catacombs under the city of Rome, dating back to the 4th century AD, archaeologists announced Tuesday.

The paintings were found in the same location where the oldest known painting of St. Paul was discovered last year, the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology said Tuesday.

They are part of a group of paintings around an image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd on the ceiling of what is thought to have been a Roman noblewoman’s tomb, experts said.

A painting of St. Peter makes up the fourth member of the group, but older images of him are thought to exist, Vatican experts said.

Their inclusion in the tomb shows the aristocrats were among the last Romans to convert to Christianity, archaeologist Fabrizio Bisconti said.
The Roman matron must have been very rich, he said, as the colors and richness of the decoration show.

The images of the apostles’ heads and shoulders against a deep red background were uncovered after two years of work, Vatican experts said.


More here: http://www.apostolicnews.org/2010/07...s-of-apostles/
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Say it ain't so ... the apostles were bearded?

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The mosaic image of Peter (left) and John (right)

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The mosaic image of Andrew

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The mosaic image of Paul

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

Interesting pictures, wonder if they had any way of being really sure of who they represented ?

Well, I don't know of any scripture in the Bible that forbids men to have a beard if they so choose, I think that since the 1960's many apostolics tended to avoid beards so as not to be associated with the hippie/drug culture of the 60's and 70's.

The scriptures do have something to say about men's hair that you would have expected the apostles to have obeyed -

1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

That is cool as all get out. Like a window to the past. I am digging Paul's beard.

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

Some of the men may have been, I don't know about the ladies

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

There is no way they had beards. No way!

:lol

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

I don't think so.

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

No bible agains't beards,it is a matter of personal preference.

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

Oh yeah, well back about 30 years ago in his Sunday night sermon, my ALJC pastor said, "The Bible says that a man is supposed to be clean shaven."

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

The good Elder was mistaken.

Re: Apostolic News: Oldest Images of Apostles foun
 

A very interesting find. Love the images. If I had to guess, I'd say at least some of the apostles had beards.