The Bible clearly teaches that no man has seen God at any time (John 1:18). He is the invisible God (Col. 1:15). It is to be anathema to attempt to make an image of Him (Ex. 20:4), for God is a Spirit and His worship must be in spirit (John 4:24). Out of the fire on Mt. Horeb, God spoke with a voice but did not appear in any form (Deut. 4:12). Just as He presented no image of Himself, God prohibited the making of any graven images (Deut. 4:15,6). He transcends mortal man infinitely in every way. He dwells in the light that no man can approach unto and Whom no man has seen nor can see (I Tim. 6:16). Indeed, no man can see Him and live (Ex. 33:20). His Presence must be too overwhelming to observed by mortal man. In this sense, God is transcendent and unapproachable by man, or any other creature, for He is infinitely higher than His creation.

But, we have also seen that God is immanent, that is, that He is both omnipresent in His creation and reigns over all creation from His throne in Heaven. He is not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27). Ultimately, God has spoken to us in these last days by His Son (Heb. 1:1-3). God came down to man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He was Emmanuel, or God with us (Matt. 1:23). He was the child that was born who was called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). In Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). We will discuss this in more detail in a later installment.

But before the Incarnation, God manifested Himself in the world in visible forms at various times (Heb. 1:1). These appearances were dramatic, direct, physical revelations of God’s presence, character, and will. They often marked pivotal moments in biblical history, reinforcing divine authority and guiding God’s people. These appearances are known as “theophanies,” (“theo” – God; “phaino” – appear).

Theophanies can be of various kinds. Some suggest there are upward of fifty theophanic appearances in both the Old and New Testaments. But this is on the high side because it includes God’s appearances in dreams and visions, which, strictly speaking, are not physical appearances of God and do not fit the general definition of a theophany. God has appeared in non-human form, such as in fire and clouds and storms (Ex. 3, 19). He has also appeared in human form, as when He wrestled with Jacob (Gen. 32). God also appeared to man in audible utterances, as in Elijah’s still, small voice (I Kings 19:12,13). In each case, God’s Presence was revealed in a physical manifestation of some kind. They were not apparitions or projections. They were real, physical appearances of God, in some form, in the world.

Theophanies are powerful moments where God makes Himself known in unmistakable ways, shaping the faith and understanding of His people. These appearances reveal God’s nature and provide glimpses into God’s attributes, such as holiness (Isaiah 6), power (Exodus 19), and mercy (Genesis 18). Theophanies in the Old Testament anticipate the ultimate revelation of God in Jesus Christ, who is the permanent manifestation of God among humanity (John 14:9). God also appeared to lead His people, such as in the pillar of cloud and fire during the Exodus (Exodus 14:19-20) and the Rock that followed them (I Cor. 10:4). Then again, some theophanies demonstrate divine judgment, like God’s appearance in a storm at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19).

These appearances do not conflict with the fact that no man has seen God at any time (John 1:18). Each manifestation presents God in a mediated form. Moses, for instance, saw only God’s hinder parts, a term whose full meaning may not be fully known (Ex. 33:32,33). God’s face was not seen (Ex. 32:23). In other words, Moses had a very extraordinary, but yet, limited, view of God. God’s face often stands for His special, providential Presence. The Hebrew word “panim” and the Greek “prosopon” are frequently used to convey relationship not position. A special Jewish blessing was the statement “The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you” (Num. 6:24-26). It simply meant that God was showing His favor, grace, and benevolence toward His people. Again, Deuteronomy 31:17: “I will hide My face from them, and they will be destroyed.” This simply meant that God was going to sit in judgment on them.

Many of these theophanies are also Christophanies. A Christophany is the actual appearance of the second Person of the Godhead in the world in some material or physical way. I say many, but not all. When the Father said from Heaven “This is My beloved Son” He was distinct from the Son present on earth. However, many Old Testament appearances, such as the Angel of the Lord, the fourth figure in the fiery furnace, or the man wrestling Jacob, strongly suggest that they were manifestations of the pre-incarnate Christ. These Christophanies serve as veiled revelations of God’s presence while maintaining the truth that no man has seen the Father in His full essence.

The study of Theophanies and Christophanies reveals the gracious manner in which God has chosen to make Himself known throughout history. Though He dwells in unapproachable light and remains unseen in His full essence, He has entered the world in forms that humanity could engage with and understand. These divine appearances prepared the way for the ultimate revelation in Christ, in whom the fullness of Godhead dwelt bodily (Colossians 2:9). Through Him, God is not only revealed but approachable, bridging the gap between His infinite transcendence and His intimate presence.

Eric L. Padgett