Why Do Bishops Wear Purple?
Why do bishops wear purple? As a symbol of authority, sobriety, and boldness in the gospel.
Please note: this article offers a theological rationale for the practice rather than a historical explanation. As a historical matter, Anglican bishops have more commonly worn scarlet, black, and white; episcopal purple was a relatively recent development.
Sponsored
Purple and Authority
The association of purple clothing with royal authority goes back to the ancient world. Purple dye, made from crushed shellfish, was expensive and rare and especially associated with kings and high officials. Moreover, in Hebrew religious ceremonial use, purple threads were incorporated into the tabernacle and the high priest’s vestments.
Like kings and the High Priest, bishops carry authority with a divine sanction. Lest bishops mistake their mandate, however, they should remember that Jesus also wore a purple robe, mocked as a false king because his kingdom was not of this world:
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands (John 19:2-3).
Purple and Sobriety
Bishops often wear purple rings made of amethyst, a tradition associated with sobriety. That Bishops should not be drunkards is one of the teachings of Paul:
For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain… (Titus 1:7)
But what does this have to do with amethysts or the color purple?
In ancient days, the purplish color of the amethyst (the color of wine) was thought to prevent intoxication. And this has to do with the name of the stone in Greek: amethysos, which means “not drunk.” Look at the word combination: “a,” which means “not,” and “methys,” which means “drunk.” So, the word amethyst is Greek for not drunk.
In other words, purple has the color of wine, but bishops are to remain sober.
Purple and Boldness
But why should bishops wear the color of wine if they are not to be drunkards? Because Bishops are supposed to have the boldness of the drunkard, not inspired by wine but rather by the Holy Spirit!
Recall the day of Pentecost, when the apostles were together and received the Holy Spirit and proceeded to proclaim the gospel in all languages with all boldness. Some bystanders mocked them and said, “They are filled with new wine” (Acts 2:13).
But Peter explained that they were “not drunk” (Acts 2:15), but rather that the Holy Spirit had come upon them, as Joel had prophesied:
I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams…and it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:17, 21)
So the purple that bishops wear is a potent reminder to them and to us: to proclaim the gospel with boldness enough to make others think you are drunk!
Note: This article expands upon a section in David Roseberry’s guidebooks, The Rector, The Vestry, and The Bishop. For more on the role of a bishop, you can purchase the book here.
Photo: ACNA College of Bishops, 2019.
Anglican Vestments: A Rookie Anglican Guide
You walk into an Anglican church and see many people wearing a wide array of odd clothing. You notice ministers wearing white robes with colorful scarf-like items around their necks, some vertical and some diagonal. If the parish has a verger (typically the person who appears to know what everyone is supposed to do), they…
The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop: A Foreword by Bob Duncan
Anglican Compass is proud to publish the Rev. Canon David Roseberry’s new book, The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop. It is already getting widespread acclaim from rectors, vestry members, and bishops throughout the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Below is the forward to the book by none other than the founding Archbishop and…
