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In Living Color: Images of Christ and the Means of Grace
While man has universally and perpetually desired the visual in his relationship with God, God has given his people the Word and sacraments as manifestations of his presence until Christ comes again, visibly and corporeally___in living color. This is the classic Reformed exegesis of Scripture as expressed in its confessions.
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"Danny Hyde has written an excellent piece on a very misunderstood subject. Through effective combination of biblical, theological, and confessional discussions, he has presented the Reformed view of the second commandment winsomely and attractively. He helpfully emphasizes not the negative prohibition of making images of God but the positive facts that God has revealed himself now so generously in Word and Sacrament and will one day reveal himself visibly in the most perfect and authentic way."
David VanDrunen, Robert B. Strimple Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Westminster Seminary California
__________
"Danny Hyde has written an excellent piece on a very misunderstood subject. Through effective combination of biblical, theological, and confessional discussions, he has presented the Reformed view of the second commandment winsomely and attractively. He helpfully emphasizes not the negative prohibition of making images of God but the positive facts that God has revealed himself now so generously in Word and Sacrament and will one day reveal himself visibly in the most perfect and authentic way."
David VanDrunen, Robert B. Strimple Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Westminster Seminary California
- GenresTheology
192 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2009
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About the author
Daniel R. Hyde
41 books30 followersDaniel R. Hyde (ThM, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is the Pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church in Oceanside, California. He is the author of over ten books, including Welcome to a Reformed Church, Why Believe in God?, and God in Our Midst.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 27, 2025
Reformed Fellowship, Inc. was kind enough to send me a copy of "In Living Color: Images of Christ and the Means of Grace" by Daniel R Hyde in exchange for an honest review
We live in a visually driven culture. We have taken the idea that “a picture is worth a thousand words” to a whole new level. We even place more value on poorly-made human depictions of biblical narratives than we do on the actual Word of God. What many people don’t like to hear, even in the Reformed world, is that we are actually forbidden from making any images of Jesus Christ. This short book by Rev. Hyde shows the biblical and confessional warrant for this position and then shows the reader a better and God-ordained medium of seeing Christ.
The first part of the book deals with the big question: why do the Reformed reject all images of Christ (cf. Heidelberg Catechism 96-98 and Westminster Larger Catechism 109)? Our main confessional statements tie this to the Second Commandment, and Hyde does a good job exegetically defending that basis. But he also shows that there’s so much more throughout the whole Bible that drives us to the Reformed position.This first part thoroughly defends the Reformed view and knocks down opposing arguments. The book is worth it alone for this first part.
However, Hyde isn’t content to stop just after smashing one of the modern church’s golden calves. He also shows that there are God-ordained ordinary means of experiencing our risen Savior: the preaching of the Word and the celebration of the Sacraments. Each one gets their own chapter. Hyde ably shows the biblical and confessional warrant for these means and guides the reader through how much better they are than anything we could come up with.
Every Christian should read this book, especially if you claim to be Reformed (though its use is by no means limited to Reformed Christians). It’s become popular in certain denominations to make our teaching on the Second Commandment and the Incarnation an optional thing. Those church leaders, as well as parishioners who have sat under such careless teaching will benefit from this book. I can’t recommend it enough as a remedy to many anti-biblical practices plaguing the church today.
We live in a visually driven culture. We have taken the idea that “a picture is worth a thousand words” to a whole new level. We even place more value on poorly-made human depictions of biblical narratives than we do on the actual Word of God. What many people don’t like to hear, even in the Reformed world, is that we are actually forbidden from making any images of Jesus Christ. This short book by Rev. Hyde shows the biblical and confessional warrant for this position and then shows the reader a better and God-ordained medium of seeing Christ.
The first part of the book deals with the big question: why do the Reformed reject all images of Christ (cf. Heidelberg Catechism 96-98 and Westminster Larger Catechism 109)? Our main confessional statements tie this to the Second Commandment, and Hyde does a good job exegetically defending that basis. But he also shows that there’s so much more throughout the whole Bible that drives us to the Reformed position.This first part thoroughly defends the Reformed view and knocks down opposing arguments. The book is worth it alone for this first part.
However, Hyde isn’t content to stop just after smashing one of the modern church’s golden calves. He also shows that there are God-ordained ordinary means of experiencing our risen Savior: the preaching of the Word and the celebration of the Sacraments. Each one gets their own chapter. Hyde ably shows the biblical and confessional warrant for these means and guides the reader through how much better they are than anything we could come up with.
Every Christian should read this book, especially if you claim to be Reformed (though its use is by no means limited to Reformed Christians). It’s become popular in certain denominations to make our teaching on the Second Commandment and the Incarnation an optional thing. Those church leaders, as well as parishioners who have sat under such careless teaching will benefit from this book. I can’t recommend it enough as a remedy to many anti-biblical practices plaguing the church today.
December 27, 2022
This book answered so many questions I was asking about why some Christians care so much about not making images of Christ. It was so helpful and compelling! It offered not only a biblical but also a confessional basis for the rejection of images of Christ.
May 18, 2023
Reformed view of the second commandment
July 27, 2023
Very good and helpful, but the editing was not well done.
January 10, 2024
Rev. Hyde does a masterful job of not only showing Christians why we ought not make images of the Godhead, but then also points to the means by which we ought to pursue seeing Christ (Word and sacrament). As a credobaptist I would certainly have quibbles about portions of the baptism section, but other than that and the editing being a bit rough, this book needs to be read and applied by every believer. Absolute must read.
August 9, 2018
An excellent and worthwhile read! Very simply arranged in three main chapters but covering the historic position of the reformed faith on the second commandment comprehensively along with biblical references. Highly recommended for those interested in a deeper study of the second commandment.
November 2, 2009
Daniel Hyde argues the reformed christian view on icons used in worship and private devotion and finds there is no good use for visual images of the second person of the Trinity in Christian worship. None. He begins by considering men's created images in painting and film and finds all corrupt the clear intent of the second commandment. Hyde then goes on to the positive images found in scripture to inform men: Word and Sacrament. The preacher is to draw a clear and lively image in preaching the word of God and properly administering the two dominical sacraments, baptism and eucharist.
One would think this is basic stuff for the reformed congregations, but apparently not, else no need for this book. The book is short, clearly written and tightly argued. I was left wondering what to make of OT images such as "lamb of God" or the NT image of bread and wine, because I directly think of the man/God Jesus Christ, but perhaps that is the point. It is noteworthy that in the the classic film Ben Hur, I cannot recall much facial recognition to the portrayal of the Christ but only that the figure was a real man, not a phantom.
I suggest it a 'good read'.
One would think this is basic stuff for the reformed congregations, but apparently not, else no need for this book. The book is short, clearly written and tightly argued. I was left wondering what to make of OT images such as "lamb of God" or the NT image of bread and wine, because I directly think of the man/God Jesus Christ, but perhaps that is the point. It is noteworthy that in the the classic film Ben Hur, I cannot recall much facial recognition to the portrayal of the Christ but only that the figure was a real man, not a phantom.
I suggest it a 'good read'.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews