DiotimosReading Desk

Explained supporting records

Image and portrayal

Bild / Ebenbild / effigiem

Image-language has more than one subject. The art is holy because heavenly good is represented and portrayed in it; human nature is deemed fitting for union with the divine because it was created in God's image; fallen humanity is then described as a damaged image needing restoration.

From the book

The Sophic Hydrolith, Water Stone of the Wise

Anonymous and companion authors · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Meaning

Image-language has more than one subject. The art is holy because heavenly good is represented and portrayed in it; human nature is deemed fitting for union with the divine because it was created in God's image; fallen humanity is then described as a damaged image needing restoration. The last occurrence uses the learned effigiem beside vernacular image-language. These are not three assertions that a material likeness is identical with God. They concern representation, created affinity, and disfigurement respectively. The English smooths the abrupt syntax of the fallen-image passage but preserves the contrast between original dignity and subsequent damage.

Places to read

  1. Part I: entrance and preparation · unit 2The highest heavenly good is depicted in the art.
  2. Part IV: the spiritual comparison · unit 22Human nature’s kinship with divinity is linked to creation in its image.
  3. Part IV: the spiritual comparison · unit 31Humanity’s created image becomes a damaged likeness; mercy ordains its restoration.

Attested forms

angebildet; abgemahlet; Bild erschaffen; Ebenbild; gestalt; effigiem