Saint John's Bible: Prophets

Book Synopsis: 2008 Catholic Press Association Award Winner! Prophets is the fourth of seven full-color reproduction books of The Saint John's Bible, featuring some of the most beautiful passages in all of Sacred Scripture. The ancient prophets of Israel suffered and celebrated with the people they both admonished and praised. They provided words of consolation during times of oppression and kept the flame of hope alive during the darkest periods of Israelite and Jewish history. Christians honor the prophets as those who foretold the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as is evidenced by the many references to the prophets in the New Testament. The prophetic message is as relevant today as it was in ancient Israel. The prophets continue to call us to respond to God's love and offer their unvarnished judgment on our behavior. Jackson's images amplify the prophetic word, keeping the flame of hope alive today.

Prophets includes artistic depictions from Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Micah, Amos, Daniel, and Zechariah. Major images are Isaiah's Vision of the New Temple, Suffering Servant, Ezekiel's Cal, Valley of the Dry Bones, Daniel's Son of Man, Amos' Plea for Social Justice, and Zechariah's Messianic Predictions. In addition, famous passages such as Isaiah 2:4 “He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” receive special calligraphic and artistic treatment.

Donald Jackson is one of the world's leading calligraphers and the artistic director and illuminator of The Saint John's Bible. He is a Senior Illuminator to the Queen of England's Crown Office and is an elected Fellow and past Chairman of the prestigious Society of Scribes and Illuminators. His 30-year retrospective exhibition, “Painting with Words,” premiered at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in August, 1988 and traveled to 13 museums and galleries.