Sermon Illustrations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

APOSTLES

SYMBOLS OF THE APOSTLES

THOMAS: The book represents the Gospel which Thomas is supposed to have preached in India. The sword symbolizes the manner in which he was put to death.

PHILIP: The Partriarchal Cross and a spear. This is the Latin cross with a shorter horizontal arm added above the long horizontal one. This particular cross is often seen in the hands of Patriarchs. The spear recalls Philip’s supposed martyrdom after valiant missionary activity in Galatia.

PETER: Two keys crossed like the letter X. St. Peter is said to have been crucified at Rome, requesting that he be crucified head downward, for he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same position as that of his Lord.

JUDE: This apostle, also called Thaddaeus, traveled far with Simon on missionary journeys. Hence, we have the sail boat with a cross shaped mast. Among the lands he visited were Arabia,Syria and Mesopotamia.

BARTHOLOMEW: This apostle, thought to be the same as Nathaniel, is said to have been flayed alive and then crucified and his body decapitated by a scimitar.

PAUL: Although not one of the twelve, St. Paul is considered to be the greatest of the apostles. The symbol here
used is the sword of the spirit, cross hilted. This is a familiar device often carved in stone over the doorway of churches bearing his name.

JAMES THE GREATER: The escallop shell is the symbol of Pilgrimage. This apostle, beheaded by Herod, combined noteworthy zeal, missionary spirit, courage and forgiveness.

MATTHEW: The three purses used here refer to his original calling as a tax-gatherer. This apostle is said to have been crucified in Ethiopia and his head severed from his dead body with a battle axe or a halberd.

SIMON: He was a companion of St. Jude on many of his missionary journeys. His most familiar symbol is that of a book on which lies a fish. This is given to him because he was a great fisher of men, through the power of the Gospel. The exact manner of Simon's death is not told us, but he is generally supposed to have been sawn asunder, or else beheaded. It is quite certain that he suffered martyrdom.

ANDREW; The most common symbol of St. Andrew is a cross shaped like the letter X. It is believed that Andrew died while preaching the Gospel in Greece that he was crucified on a cross of this sort.

JOHN: When represented as an Apostle rather than among the Four Evangelists, St. John’s most usual symbol is a chalice out of which issued a serpent. Early writers state that an attempt was made to slay St. John by giving him a poisoned chalice, from which the Lord spared him. Hence, the chalice and the serpent. St. John is said to have been the only apostle who died a natural death, having attained a great age.

JAMES THE LESS: This apostle is symbolized in a vertical saw with the handle upward. He labored diligently in and about Jerusalem. He is said to have been ninety-six years of age when he suffered martyrdom. His dead body was sawn asunder, hence, the use of the saw as a symbol.

THE AGNUS DEI: The central carving is the Agnus Dei or "Lamb of God" and is of ancient origin. Christian
symbolism presents a great number of variations of this theme. This particular use of the symbol of the Seven Seals (Revelation 5:12) and carrying the Banner of Victory, reminds us of the Resurrection.