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Veneration of icons and relics

In short
  • S19.1 Honour of relics attested from c. 155; universal by the 4th century (high)
  • S19.2 Honour distinguished from worship (τιμή, not λατρεία) (medium)
  • S19.3 Miracles through relics affirmed (high)
  • S19.4 Minority objection (Vigilantius) rejected (high)
  • S19.5 Scripture permits made images (cherubim) but forbids representing the invisible God; no T1–T2 support for images in worship; early evidence hostile (Epiphanius); settled for icons only in 787 (T4) (medium–high)
  • S19.6 προσκύνησις/λατρεία distinction applied to images has no biblical warrant (Exod 20:5 forbids bowing to images) and no T1–T3 support; a T4 (7th–8th-c.) development (medium)
  • S19.7 Real early opposition (Epiphanius) (medium)

From the study it came from: Diverge: the later patristic settlement (787) goes beyond what Scripture and the earliest fathers support.

From the study it came from: Agree that God has worked through relics; diverge on venerating them, which the fathers practise and Scripture neither commands nor models.

Two separate measures, shown side by side; neither is combined with the other (confidence-weighted, out of 4; counts show how many of this doctrine's 7 questions each rests on). This doctrine is second-order (tier weight 2). How scoring works · Scripture and tradition · Glossary · Every score with its citation

Closeness to Scripture

1 General Baptist 75% 4/7 q
2 Anabaptist 75% 4/7 q
3 Lutheran 72% 4/7 q
4 Anglican 70% 4/7 q
5 Presbyterian 70% 4/7 q
6 Reformed Baptist 70% 4/7 q
7 Catholic 62% 4/7 q
8 Orthodox 62% 4/7 q
9 Oriental Orthodox 62% 4/7 q

Closeness to the fathers

1 Catholic 98% 6/7 q
2 Orthodox 98% 6/7 q
3 Oriental Orthodox 95% 6/7 q
4 Lutheran 32% 6/7 q
5 Anglican 27% 7/7 q
6 Presbyterian 27% 7/7 q
7 Reformed Baptist 27% 7/7 q
8 General Baptist 27% 7/7 q
9 Anabaptist 27% 7/7 q
Charts: closeness to the fathers by question, and timeline
Closeness to the fathers, by question (0–4). Hatched = not assessed in the category file. Click a question for its verdict.
01234Catholic · S19.1: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.34Orthodox · S19.1: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.34Oriental Orthodox · S19.1: 4/4 — Relics honoured4Lutheran · S19.1: 1/4 — Listed under 'departs or sharpens on': S19.11Anglican · S19.1: 1/4 — Art. XXII1Presbyterian · S19.1: 1/4 — Listed under 'departs or sharpens on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.31Reformed Baptist · S19.1: 1/4 — Rejects1General Baptist · S19.1: 1/4 — Rejects1Anabaptist · S19.1: 1/4 — Rejects1S19.1conf. highCatholic · S19.2: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.34Orthodox · S19.2: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.34Oriental Orthodox · S19.2: 4/4 — Severus preached at the martyrs' chapel on 'the commemoration of the martyrs' (Select Letters, verified); veneration practice to verify4Lutheran · S19.2: 1/4 — Memory without veneration1Anglican · S19.2: 1/4 — Art. XXII: 'Adoration ... of Reliques' a fond thing1Presbyterian · S19.2: 1/4 — Listed under 'departs or sharpens on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.31Reformed Baptist · S19.2: 1/4 — 1689 22.21General Baptist · S19.2: 1/4 — Rejects1Anabaptist · S19.2: 1/4 — Rejects1S19.2conf. mediumCatholic · S19.3: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.34Orthodox · S19.3: 4/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.34Oriental Orthodox · S19.3: 4/4 — Affirmed (to verify)4Lutheran · S19.3: 1/4 — Listed under 'departs or sharpens on': S19.3 practice1Anglican · S19.3: 1/4 — Not affirmed1Presbyterian · S19.3: 1/4 — Listed under 'departs or sharpens on': S19.1 and S19.2 and S19.31Reformed Baptist · S19.3: 1/4 — Not affirmed1General Baptist · S19.3: 1/4 — Not affirmed1Anabaptist · S19.3: 1/4 — Not affirmed1S19.3conf. highCatholic · S19.4: 4/4 — Overall verdict: 'Catholic and Orthodox match the patristic consensus' (which rejected Vigilantius)4Orthodox · S19.4: 4/4 — Overall verdict: 'Catholic and Orthodox match the patristic consensus' (which rejected Vigilantius)4Oriental Orthodox · S19.4: 4/4 — Patristic consensus4Lutheran · S19.4: 1/4 — Rejects veneration, Vigilantius's side in effect1Anglican · S19.4: 0/4 — Art. XXII0Presbyterian · S19.4: 0/4 — Closest column: 'Vigilantius's side'; overall verdict: 'revives an objection the patristic church rejected'0Reformed Baptist · S19.4: 0/4 — Vigilantius's side0General Baptist · S19.4: 0/4 — Vigilantius's side0Anabaptist · S19.4: 0/4 — Vigilantius's side0S19.4conf. highCatholic · S19.5: 4/4 — Closest column: 'Nicaea II', the council the I1 verdict says settled the question in 7874Orthodox · S19.5: 4/4 — Closest column: 'Nicaea II (fullest)'4Oriental Orthodox · S19.5: 3/4 — Icons used; did not receive Nicaea II; Armenian iconophobic currents (to verify)3Lutheran · S19.5: 3/4 — Listed under 'closest to the fathers on': S19.5 partly3Anglican · S19.5: 1/4 — Homily against Peril of Idolatry, part 3: 'all images of Christ and his saints also were forbidden by God's word' in churches (verified)1Presbyterian · S19.5: 1/4 — Departs column: 'Nicaea II', the settlement named in the I1 verdict1Reformed Baptist · S19.5: 1/4 — 1689 22.1: not worshipped 'under any visible representations'1General Baptist · S19.5: 1/4 — Rejects images in worship (Orthodox Creed, to verify)1Anabaptist · S19.5: 1/4 — No images in worship1S19.5conf. medium–highCatholic · S19.6: 3/4 — Follows Nicaea II, but the revised I2 verdict (proximity review) finds that applying the distinction to images is a T4 development with no T1–T3 support. The tradition matches one late strand only (rule 3).3Orthodox · S19.6: 3/4 — Same as Catholic: matches the T4 strand (Nicaea II), which has no T1–T3 support per the revised I2 verdict.3Oriental Orthodox · S19.6: 3/4 — Veneration practised (to verify)3Lutheran · S19.6: 2/4 — Rejects veneration (departs from T4) but agrees with the T1–T3 silence: mixed.2Anglican · S19.6: 2/4 — Art. XXII: adoration of images 'a fond thing vainly invented'2Presbyterian · S19.6: 2/4 — Rejects the T4 settlement but agrees with the T1–T3 silence on icon veneration: mixed (rule 2).2Reformed Baptist · S19.6: 2/4 — 1689 22.2: worship 'not to angels, saints, or any other creatures'2General Baptist · S19.6: 2/4 — No veneration2Anabaptist · S19.6: 2/4 — No veneration2S19.6conf. mediumCatholic · S19.7: not assessedOrthodox · S19.7: not assessedOriental Orthodox · S19.7: not assessedLutheran · S19.7: not assessedAnglican · S19.7: 3/4 — The Homily against Peril of Idolatry, part 2, quotes Epiphanius tearing the painted curtain (verified)3Presbyterian · S19.7: 3/4 — Closest column: 'Epiphanius', the early opposition named in I3; overall verdict: 'a real patristic foothold ... but not a consensus'3Reformed Baptist · S19.7: 3/4 — Agrees with early opposition3General Baptist · S19.7: 3/4 — Agrees with early opposition3Anabaptist · S19.7: 3/4 — Agrees with early opposition3S19.7conf. medium
CatholicOrthodoxOriental OrthodoxLutheranAnglicanPresbyterianReformed BaptistGeneral BaptistAnabaptistnot assessed
When the cited witnesses spoke (approximate dates) and where later traditions fixed their positions. Filled dot = consensus question; hollow orange = a question on which the fathers varied. Each item links to its source note or post-750 note.
1002003004005006007001000125015001700post-750 (compressed)Martyrdom of Polycarp (c. 156) · S19.1Martyrdom of Polycarpc. 156 · S19.1Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 350) · S19.1Cyril of Jerusalemc. 350 · S19.1Basil (c. 370) · S19.6Basilc. 370 · S19.6Epiphanius (c. 392) · S19.5, S19.7Epiphaniusc. 392 · S19.5, S19.7Jerome (c. 406) · S19.2, S19.4Jeromec. 406 · S19.2, S19.4Augustine (c. 415) · S19.3Augustinec. 415 · S19.3John of Damascus (c. 730) · S19.3John of Damascusc. 730 · S19.3John of Damascus (c. 730) · S19.5John of Damascusc. 730 · S19.5Nicaea II (c. 787) · S19.2Nicaea IIc. 787 · S19.2Nicaea II (c. 787) · S19.6Nicaea IIc. 787 · S19.6Luther vs Karlstadt (1522) · LutheranLuther vs Karlstadt1522 · LutheranSmalcald Articles (1537) · LutheranSmalcald Articles1537 · LutheranCalvin, Inventory of Relics (1543) · PresbyterianCalvin, Inventory of Relics1543 · PresbyterianTrent XXV (1563) · CatholicTrent XXV1563 · CatholicWestminster Confession (1646) · PresbyterianWestminster Confession1646 · Presbyterian
  1. c. 156 Martyrdom of Polycarp S19.1
  2. c. 350 Cyril of Jerusalem S19.1
  3. c. 370 Basil S19.6
  4. c. 392 Epiphanius S19.5, S19.7
  5. c. 406 Jerome S19.2, S19.4
  6. c. 415 Augustine S19.3
  7. c. 730 John of Damascus S19.3
  8. c. 730 John of Damascus S19.5
  9. c. 787 Nicaea II S19.2
  10. c. 787 Nicaea II S19.6
  11. 1522 Luther vs Karlstadt Lutheran
  12. 1537 Smalcald Articles Lutheran
  13. 1543 Calvin, Inventory of Relics Presbyterian
  14. 1563 Trent XXV Catholic
  15. 1646 Westminster Confession Presbyterian

S19 · Veneration of icons and relics

Honouring or rejecting images and relics.

Tier: Second-order (scoring weight 2). How the tiers were set: theological triage. Site structure: structure.

Questions

  • S19.1 Relics: honour (was relics/R1)
  • S19.2 Relics: honour and worship (was relics/R2)
  • S19.3 Relics: miracles (was relics/R3)
  • S19.4 Relics: the objection (was relics/R4)
  • S19.5 Icons: are images allowed (was icons/I1)
  • S19.6 Icons: proskynesis and latreia (was icons/I2)
  • S19.7 Icons: early opposition (was icons/I3)

Verdicts and trace

S19.1 · Relics: honour

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
S19.1Honour of relics attested from c. 155; universal by the 4th centuryHighS19.1.1 · S19.1.3 weighingmartyrdom-of-polycarp-rel-s1 · cyril-of-jerusalem-rel-s1S19.1.4: developmental: not weighted

S19.2 · Relics: honour and worship

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
S19.2Honour distinguished from worship (τιμή, not λατρεία)High / mediumS19.2.1 · S19.2.3 weighingjerome-rel-s1 · nicaea-ii-rel-s1S19.2.4: medium

S19.3 · Relics: miracles

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
S19.3Miracles through relics affirmedHighS19.3.1 · S19.3.3 weighingaugustine-rel-s1 · john-of-damascus-rel-s1S19.3.4: medium-high

S19.4 · Relics: the objection

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
S19.4Minority objection (Vigilantius) rejectedHighS19.4.1 · S19.4.3 weighingjerome-rel-s1S19.4.4: developmental: not weighted

S19.5 · Icons: are images allowed

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
S19.5Scripture permits made images (cherubim) but forbids representing the invisible God; no T1–T2 support for images in worship; early evidence hostile (Epiphanius); settled for icons only in 787 (T4)Med–highS19.5.1 · S19.5.3 weighingepiphanius-ico-s1 · john-of-damascus-ico-s1S19.5.4: medium

S19.6 · Icons: proskynesis and latreia

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
S19.6προσκύνησις/λατρεία distinction applied to images has no biblical warrant (Exod 20:5 forbids bowing to images) and no T1–T3 support; a T4 (7th–8th-c.) developmentMediumS19.6.1 · S19.6.3 weighingnicaea-ii-ico-s1 · basil-ico-s1S19.6.4: medium-high

S19.7 · Icons: early opposition

QuestionVerdictConfidenceReasoningKey sourcesScripture (benchmark)
S19.7Real early opposition (Epiphanius)MediumS19.7.1 · S19.7.3 weighingepiphanius-ico-s1S19.7.4: developmental: not weighted

Post-750 development

Which of this doctrine’s questions each tradition stays closest to, or departs from. Each row links to the tradition’s notes.

TraditionClosest to the fathers onDeparts or sharpens onFrom
CatholicNicaea II—icons
CatholicS19.1 and S19.2 and S19.3—relics
OrthodoxNicaea II (fullest)—icons
OrthodoxS19.1 and S19.2 and S19.3—relics
Oriental Orthodoxpartly S19.5; partly S19.6—icons
Oriental OrthodoxS19.1; S19.2; S19.3; S19.4—relics
LutheranS19.5 partlyS19.6icons
LutheranMemory of saintsS19.1; S19.3 practicerelics
AnglicanS19.6; partly S19.7S19.5; partly S19.6icons
Anglican—S19.1; S19.2; S19.3; S19.4 rejectedrelics
PresbyterianEpiphaniusNicaea IIicons
PresbyterianVigilantius’s sideS19.1 and S19.2 and S19.3relics
Reformed BaptistS19.6; partly S19.7S19.5; partly S19.6icons
Reformed Baptist—S19.1; S19.2; S19.3; S19.4 rejectedrelics
General BaptistS19.6; partly S19.7S19.5; partly S19.6icons
General Baptist—S19.1; S19.2; S19.3; S19.4 rejectedrelics
AnabaptistS19.6; partly S19.7S19.5; partly S19.6icons
Anabaptist—S19.1; S19.2; S19.3; S19.4 rejectedrelics

Origin

Plan, overall verdict and verification status of the former icons category (shared with the other doctrines that came from it)

Icons and images (through Nicaea II, 787)

Method and conventions: docs/conventions.md. Reasoning: icons reasoning.

1. Plan

Questions: I1 lawfulness; I2 veneration vs. worship; I3 early opposition. Scope: extended to Nicaea II (787), per the project scope. Sources: Basil, On the Holy Spirit 18.45; Epiphanius (in Jerome, Ep. 51); John of Damascus IV.16; Nicaea II Horos. Planned but not yet read: Elvira c. 36; Eusebius to Constantia; Gregory the Great to Serenus (Ep. IX.209 and XI.10, to verify); John of Damascus, Three Treatises; Hieria (754); Dura-Europos.

2. Verdicts and trace

Weighed under the source-proximity principle: Scripture first, then the father tiers T1–T4. Verdict changes are listed in docs/proximity-changes.md.

3. Post-750 development

4. Overall verdict

Orthodox and Catholic follow the council that settled the question (787). Pre-787 diversity gives the Presbyterian position a real patristic foothold (Epiphanius), but not a consensus. Lutheran sits in between. Confidence: medium.

5. Verification status

  • Verified: Basil, Epiphanius (via Jerome), John of Damascus IV.16, Nicaea II Horos; Trent XXV; WCF XXI.1.
  • To verify: Elvira c. 36; Eusebius; Gregory the Great; the Iconoclast Council of Hieria (754); Dura-Europos; the authenticity of the Epiphanius letter; the Libri Carolini; Luther.
Plan, overall verdict and verification status of the former relics category (shared with the other doctrines that came from it)

Relics

Method and conventions: docs/conventions.md. Reasoning: relics reasoning.

1. Plan

Questions: R1 honour of the saints’ bodies; R2 veneration vs. worship; R3 miracles; R4 objections. Sources: Martyrdom of Polycarp 18; Cyril of Jerusalem, Cat. 18; Jerome, Against Vigilantius; Augustine, City of God XXII.8; John of Damascus IV.15; Nicaea II. Planned but not yet read: Ambrose Ep. 22 (Gervasius and Protasius); Basil; Gregory of Nyssa on Theodore; Martyrdom of Polycarp 17.

2. Verdicts and trace

Weighed under the source-proximity principle: Scripture first, then the father tiers T1–T4. Verdict changes are listed in docs/proximity-changes.md.

3. Post-750 development

4. Overall verdict

Catholic and Orthodox match the patristic consensus. The Lutheran and Presbyterian traditions depart, and the Presbyterian position revives an objection the patristic church rejected. Confidence: high.

5. Verification status

  • Verified: all entries above; Trent XXV; AC XXI; WCF XXI.2.
  • To verify: Martyrdom of Polycarp 17; Ambrose Ep. 22; Nicaea II canon 7; Calvin, Inventory of Relics; Luther and the Smalcald Articles; Trent’s reform sections.