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Divine Mysteries: Exploring the Trinity, Evil, and Human Destiny  /  What Did Jesus Look Like?  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 6
The catacomb paintings show Jesus beardless in Roman clothing, and Bercot says they reveal more about Roman Christians than about Christ; what does this say about how early Christians visually “inculturated” Jesus, and how should that shape the way we treat Christian art, children’s Bibles, and media portrayals that quietly catechize our imaginations?
Another way to ask: If early paintings show Jesus dressed like a Roman and without a beard, what does that say about how Christians shaped Jesus’ image to fit their culture? How should that affect how we view Christian art, kids’ Bibles, and movies that shape what we imagine?

Direct Answer Bercot argues early Christians often portrayed Jesus in the image of their own culture—Roman dress and grooming—so the art “catechizes” viewers into a local, time-bound Jesus rather than giving historical accuracy. That means modern Christians should treat visual portrayals cautiously, recognizing they may reflect the artist’s culture more than the real first-century Christ.

Support from Transcript:

  • Figure 14 (early 200s) shows Jesus in a Roman setting; Bercot says it “actually tells us nothing about how the real Jesus looked.”
  • He explains the pattern: catacomb art is the “earliest example” of painting Jesus to look like people “in the time period and geographical area in which the artist lived.”
  • He notes Jesus appears “beardless” and even wears a “Roman toga… something that the historical Jesus would certainly not have worn.”
  • Figures 15 and 17 again show a “beardless Jesus” in Roman clothing; apostles look like Roman men with “fairly short hair.”
  • He calls it a “mistaken conclusion” to use these images to argue Jesus had no beard; instead, they show what “Roman Christians” looked like.
Discussion Follow-ups What pictures of Jesus have shaped your instincts about Him, and how might your discipleship change if you held those images more loosely?

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