Cutting Room Floor – Ancient Mirrors

In our text this Sunday, Paul uses the Greek word katoptrizō, which means something like “behold as in a mirror.” We’ll talk about what Paul is saying on Sunday, but ancient mirrors were very different from modern ones.

Today, when we look in a mirror, we might think of walking into the bathroom, flipping on the lights, and having a large, well-lit, crystal-clear view of ourselves. That wasn’t the experience of someone living in the first century.

Mirrors in Paul’s world were typically made from polished metal, often bronze, and were usually small enough to hold in your hand. With enough effort, bronze can be polished to produce a pretty good reflection, but the surface might have imperfections or distortions, and the image would generally be darker than what we’re used to. That meant finding good lighting was important. Bronze also tarnishes over time, so mirrors needed occasional polishing to keep them reflective.

So imagine getting ready in the morning without your bathroom mirror. Instead, you pick up a small bronze disc, check whether it needs polishing, move toward the window to find some decent light, and play with a few angles until you’re satisfied you’re looking your best.

It’s a small difference, but a good reminder that when we read the Bible, we bring our own experiences with us. And sometimes, even the most ordinary details aren’t quite what we imagine.

Grace & Peace,

Kim Herbert