The Justinian Code's Law against Graven Images of Jesus

Justinian I, Eastern Roman Emperor

Contrary to the American church's idolatrous reliance on graven images of Jesus, the Justinian Code (529-533) took the matter very seriously, as those guilty of creating such images were "subject to a heavy penalty."

Whether or not such a sin should be punished by the state, it is a breath of fresh air to see a culture take graven images of Jesus seriously. Below is the law as the Justinian Code states it:

TITLE VIII.

No ONE SHALL BE PERMITTED TO CARVE OR PAINT THE IMAGE OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST UPON EARTH, STONE OR MARBLE.

1. The Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian to Eudoxius, Prætorian Prefect.

As it is Our diligent care to guard in every way the religion of the Celestial Divinity, We specially command that no one shall be permitted to trace, carve, or paint the image of Christ the Saviour either upon the earth, upon stone, or upon marble placed in the earth, but it shall be erased wherever found; and anyone who attempts to violate Our laws in this respect shall be subject to a heavy penalty.

Given on the twelfth of the Kalends of June, during the Consulate of Hierius and Ardaburius, 427.

(From THE CIVIL LAW INCLUDING The Twelve Tables, The Institutes of Gaius, The Rules of Ulpian, The Opinions of Paulus, The Enactments of Justinian, and The Constitutions of Leo: Translated from the original Latin, edited, and compared with all accessible systems of jurisprudence ancient and modern. By S. P. SCOTT, A. M.)

see the entire code

For a biblical case against attempted images of Jesus, see Are Pictures of Christ Unbiblical, by Brian Schwertley