Topical Bible: Money: Originally Stamped With the Image of a Lamb

◄ Money: Originally Stamped With the Image of a Lamb ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the ancient world, money served as a crucial medium of exchange, facilitating trade and economic interaction. The Bible provides various insights into the use and significance of money, often highlighting its moral and spiritual implications. One intriguing aspect of biblical currency is the imagery used on coins, which sometimes bore significant symbols, such as the image of a lamb.

Symbolism of the Lamb

The lamb holds profound symbolic meaning throughout the Scriptures. It is often associated with innocence, sacrifice, and redemption. In the Old Testament, the lamb is central to the sacrificial system established by God for the atonement of sins. The Passover lamb, for instance, is a pivotal symbol of deliverance and divine protection (Exodus 12:3-13). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is identified as the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), underscoring His role as the ultimate sacrificial offering.

Historical Context of Coinage

During the biblical era, coinage was a relatively new development, emerging around the 7th century BC. Coins were typically stamped with images that conveyed authority, religious significance, or cultural identity. The use of a lamb on currency would have resonated deeply with the Jewish people, reflecting their religious heritage and the centrality of sacrificial practices.

Theological Implications

The image of a lamb on money could serve as a constant reminder of the spiritual truths embedded in the sacrificial system. It would symbolize purity, the cost of redemption, and the need for atonement. For early Christians, such imagery would also point to Christ's redemptive work, reinforcing the belief that true wealth is found not in material possessions but in spiritual salvation.

Biblical References to Money and Imagery

While the Bible does not explicitly mention coins stamped with the image of a lamb, it does address the broader concept of money and its imagery. Jesus famously addressed the issue of paying taxes to Caesar by asking for a denarius and inquiring about the image on it, which was Caesar's (Matthew 22:19-21). This incident highlights the importance of recognizing the authority and symbolism behind the images on currency.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The Bible consistently warns against the love of money and the dangers of materialism. In 1 Timothy 6:10 , it is stated, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." The presence of a lamb on money could serve as a moral check, reminding individuals of the higher values of sacrifice, humility, and devotion to God.

Conclusion

The concept of money stamped with the image of a lamb, while not directly mentioned in Scripture, aligns with the rich tapestry of biblical symbolism. It serves as a powerful reminder of the spiritual truths that transcend material wealth, pointing believers to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 23:15
My lord, listen to me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that between me and you? bury therefore your dead.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 33:19
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ is All
... care that his image is most clearly stamped upon us ... The Greek said originally, "I
may certainly indulge in ... "Money answereth all things," says the wise man, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/christ is all.htm

The Fourth Commandment
... God is essentially, originally, and efficiently holy. ... but love to see his own effigies
stamped on coin ... Men will not lay out their money upon purchase unless it ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 4 the fourth commandment.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... walls, constructed and repaired with bricks stamped with the ... ask what beings and
beliefs were originally hidden under ... man who throws her the money, and repels ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Period iii. The Dissolution of the Imperial State Church and the ...
... Chlodowech (Clovis, 481-511) was originally a king of the Salian Franks, near Tournay. ...
we decree that he, who shall have been ordained for money, shall be ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iii the dissolution of.htm

Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.
... if you had not had before you the image of that ... resurrection the form of clay which
was originally given in ... way of amendment, that you have stamped these books ...
/.../various/life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /