"Christ Among the Pharisees"

In depicting Christ among the Pharisees, with the Dove of the Holy Spirit hovering above, Jordaens has in fact created a pictorial religious debate rather than illustrating an actual episode from the New Testament. The books held open by the Pharisees are written in Flemish and the text seems to relate to, but not transcribe, verses from the Old and New Testament (Isaiah 63 on the left and John on the right). The text on the left roughly translates as ‘We saw him but did not recognize him’, a point that Jordaens humorously emphasizes with the half-blind scholar holding large glasses as he cranes his head toward the book and Christ. The group of Pharisees at right are confronted with text from the New and Old Testaments, stating ‘Jesus Christ is the truth. God lives forever’ and ‘I am the resurrected’. Christ, with one hand on the scriptures and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit above, is clearly meant as the one way to salvation. His presence here emphasizes the divine authorship of the Bible. The Pharisees, meanwhile, who see but do not see, represent the erroneous beliefs of the Roman Church.