Letters Collection

The Letters Collection includes bookmarks for the books from Romans through to Revelation. By number of books, this is the largest collection in the series.

The letters take the hope of all the other books of the Bible and draws a direct path toward their fulfilment in Christ in the new covenant era. In doing this they unfold the practical and theological aspects of the Christian life in all its complexities.

The design of this collection captures this function as a well worn road towards a distant sun. The road represents the Christian’s rugged life-journey of following Christ and the sun captures both the fulness of all that’s been revealed and the completion of all things in the new heavens and earth. Together they convey the Christian’s trajectory towards the eternal God. It is the simplest design of all the collections emphasising the simplicity of the choice we have before us.

The Collection So Far...

Romans

The letter to the Romans depicts the ingrafted wild olive shoots that now share in the nourishing sap from the olive tree (chapter 11). Although the broken branches lie scattered at the base of the tree roots, Paul emphasises that God is able to graft them in again.

1 Corinthians

The first letter of Corinthians depicts a field of sprouting shoots which have been planted, watered and are now sprouting. This is Paul’s analogy of how the faith is planted and grows. Some will plant seeds, some will water, each will do their part but the sprouting of faith in the end only comes from God (chapter 3).

2 Corinthians

The second letter of Corinthians depicts a field ready for the harvest. In chapter 9, Paul writes to the Corinthians about generous sowing and generous reaping, saying the former leads to the latter. It develops the sprouting field of 1 Corinthians into its inevitable endpoint of a rich harvest as God continues his work of growing faith in the lives of his people.

Galatians

For the letter to the Galatians, the two covenants of the Lord is on display: Mount Sinai, the old covenant, is represented by the split mountain. Breaking through the mountains is the new covenant, the Holy Spirit, who brings forth the light of the true gospel (chapter 4).

Ephesians

The letter to the Ephesians depicts an array of sun-like orbs rising towards the true sun. Previously we were darkness and embodied the characteristics of darkness, but now we are light in Jesus and so this image captures the command to walk as children of light embodying the characteristics of light—goodness, righteousness and truth (chapter 5).

Philippians

The letter to the Philippians depicts a constellation of stars set against an earthly background. This is how Paul describes the salvation of the Christian when it is fully lived out (chapter 2). The more we become blameless and innocent children of God the more we shine against the depravity of the world, like a star shines against the darkness of space.

Colossians

For the letter to the Colossians, the shadowed clouds highlight the way that God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and into the kingdom of the Son he loves (chapter 1).

James

The letter of James depicts a field of flowers withered by the heat of the sun. This is James’ reminder to the Christian who is rich in earthly terms, to not take pride in what they have in this world. Rather they should see that what they have, though beautiful, can wilt in a moment and so realise that their position in this world is, in truth, a humble and fleeting one (chapter 1).

1 Peter

The letter of 1 Peter depicts a pattern of simple but neatly cut stones being laid towards an, as yet, unfinished temple on the horizon. This is how Peter visualises the trajectory of the Christian life. As we choose to follow Jesus—the living stone, we are, like living stones, being built into the fullest expression of what God’s people were meant to be (chapter 2).

Revelation

For the book of Revelation it depicts the fall of the great serpent (or dragon). In Revelation we see the dragon cast down, defeated in a heavenly war (chapter 12) and ultimately cast into the burning lake in judgement. This bookmark captures the fall of God’s enemies which Jesus began on the cross and will complete at the time of judgement.

More to come...

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