Reidar Hvalvik, Dr. theol., is Professor emeritus in New Testament Studies at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society; affiliated to the Norwegian Institute in Rome in 2006–2007. His education includes art history, and his publications cover early Christian literature and art.

• PrefaceList of Illustrations, Photo Credits and TablesAbbreviationsIntroduction1 Dominus legem dat2 Biblical Images on Early Christian Sarcophagi3 The Research Questions of this Study4 Outline of the Study1 Context: The Early Christian Sarcophagi and Roman Funerary Art1.1 The Rhetorical Nature of Pagan/Classical and Christian Roman Sarcophagi1.2 The Images on Christian Sarcophagi1.3 Summing up2 Context: Biblical Images in Early Christian Funerary Art—Their Sources and Significance2.1 The Repertoire of Early Christian Funerary Images: The Most Common Images2.2 Images and Texts2.3 Listings of Biblical Heroes in Writings Known and Used in Rome in the Third and Fourth CenturiesExcursus: Christian Writings Known in Rome in the Third and Fourth Centuries2.4 Funerary Images and Funerary Orations2.5 From Texts to Images—Some Challenges2.6 Funerary Images Conveying Belief in the Resurrection of the Dead2.7 Theological Reflections and Pragmatic Reasons for the Choice of Images2.8 Summing up3 Dominus legem dat: Defining the Motif3.1 Terminology3.2 Some Preliminary Considerations3.3 The Motif: Core Elements and Additional Elements4 History of Research4.1 First Period: 1594 to ca.18504.2 Second Period: ca.1850–19504.3 Third Period: Second Half of the Twentieth Century4.4 Fourth Period: Twenty-First Century4.5 Summing up5 The Dominus legem dat Sarcophagi5.1 The Layout of the Sarcophagi5.2 The Motifs Found together with Dominus legem dat5.3 City-gate Sarcophagi where Dominus legem dat Covers the Whole Front and the Adjacent Motifs5.4 Sarcophagi where Dominus legem dat Is One of Several Motifs on the Front5.5 The Design of Dominus legem dat when It Is the Sole Motif on the Front5.6 Interpreting the Dominus legem dat Motif on the Basis of Sarcophagi 1606 Interpreting Dominus legem dat on the Basis of Texts6.1 Occurrences of the Inscription6.2 The Idea of a (New) Law of Christ in Early Christianity6.3 The Inscription outside the Dominus legem dat Scene6.4 Interpreting the Dominus legem dat on the Basis of Texts and Sarcophagus Images7 Interpreting Dominus legem dat in a Specific Context: The Mosaic in San Giovanni in Fonte7.1 San Giovanni in Fonte7.2 The Mosaic in the Dome of the Baptistery7.3 The Dominus legem dat Motif in San Giovanni in Fonte7.4 The Apostles Peter and Paul8 The Lamb on the Mount, the Sheep Coming out from Two Cities, and the River Jordan8.1 The Position of the Lamb and the Sheep8.2 The Divine Lamb (Agnus Dei) on the Mount8.3 The Sheep8.4 The Cities/City Gates8.5 Jerusalem and Bethlehem8.6 The River Jordan8.7 The Origin of the Various Versions9 The Assumed First Version of the Dominus legem dat Motif9.1 The Location of Roman Sarcophagi with a Dominus legem dat Motif9.2 Versions of the Dominus legem dat Reflecting an Earlier Monumental Model9.3 Indirect Evidence from a Roman Apse Mosaic and from Saint Augustine9.4 Possible Later “Copies” of the Apse in St. Peter’s9.5 Summing up10 Dominus legem dat in Its Historical and Theological Context10.1 The Origin of the Old St. Peter’s Basilica10.2 The Possible Theological Background for the Choice of the Motif in St. Peter’s BasilicaConclusionAppendix: Catalog of All Occurrences of the Dominus legem dat MotifBibliographyIndices