What is Theophany?

Theophany, in short, is the manifestation of God in the Bible. And this apparition occurs in various forms in some chapters of the Old and New Testaments. It is worth noting that they are visible manifestations, so they are real. Moreover, they were temporary appearances.

Even these theophanies happen at very specific moments in the Bible. They occur when God tries to send the message without the need of an intermediary, such as an angel, for example. Therefore, the Divine speaks directly to some person. Therefore, they are decisive phases and carry great messages for everyone.

The warning about the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah to Abraham was one of these moments. So, throughout this article understand what Theophany is beyond the dictionary meaning, but know the moments where they occurred in the Holy Bible, in the Old and New Testaments and the etymological meaning.

Definition of Theophany

In this first point you will understand the literal meaning of Theophany. In addition, you will discover a little more about the origin of this word and understand how this divine manifestation occurs in the Bible and what these moments were.

Greek origin for word

The Greek vocabulary gave origin to many words of various languages around the world. After all, the Greek language is one of the greatest influences of Latin. And with that, it brought a gigantic impact to the Portuguese language as a whole.

And in the case of the word theophany it was no different. In fact, this word is a junction of two distinct Greek words. Thus, Theos means "God", while Phainein means to show or to manifest.

Putting the two words together, we soon have the word theosphainein which in Portuguese becomes theophany. And putting the meanings together the meaning is "manifestation of God.

Anthropomorphic God?

A very common mistake when speaking of theophany is to confuse it with anthropomorphism. Even the latter is a philosophical and theological current. It originates from the combination of the Greek terms "anthropo" which means man and "morphhe" which means "form", where the concept attributes human characteristics to divinities.

It is not uncommon to find quotes in the Bible that attribute characteristics such as feelings to God. Even he is often referred to in the masculine, which evidences anthropomorphism. One example is using the expression "hand of God.

However, the concept of placing characteristics distances itself from what theophany actually is. For in this concept, when divine manifestation occurs, it is usually the spirit of God.

Encounter with God

Theophany is, in short, God's manifestation, but it occurs in a much more direct way than in other biblical cases. As said, it occurs in very decisive moments reported in the Bible, since it's the direct encounter with God. Speaking of that, this is a concept rooted in Christian religions, such as Protestantism.

This is a supernatural experience in which the believer feels the presence of God. Also according to the precepts, the believer who has the experience faithfully believes in God, without any kind of doubt or unbelief.

Theophany in the Bible

Theophany in the Bible occurs at extremely decisive moments between humanity and God. There are more occurrences of this phenomenon in the Old Testament than in the New. They generally function as warnings to believers in Christian divinity.

According to the Holy Book, the greatest theophany that has occurred in the Bible until the present times is certainly the coming of Jesus Christ. In this case, the first one that occurs from his birth until his death, at the age of 33.

According to the books of the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the greatest appearance of God, for He lived among men, died crucified, but rose again on the third day and appeared to the apostles.

Theophany in the Old Testament

In this section you will understand what were the decisive points where Theophany occurred in the Old Testament. It is worth remembering that this phenomenon is temporary, but occurred at decisive moments. And it is when God appears directly, without the need of an intermediary.

Abraham in Shechem

The first theophany that occurs in the Bible is in the book of Genesis. The city where the first manifestation of God takes place is in Shechem, in Genesis, where together with his family, Abraham (here still described as Abram) takes the course to the lands of Canaan ordered by God.

In fact, it is worth noting that God has always spoken to Abraham throughout his life, sometimes in theophany, sometimes not. The final destination is in Shechem. They reach the highest hill where a sacred oak resides.

In this, God makes his first appearance to a human. After that Abraham erected an altar to God according to the divine order.

Abraham is warned about Sodom and Gomorrah

Sodom and Gomorrah are well-known cities even to those who don't usually read the Bible. They were destroyed by God because they were considered places of great manifestation of sin. And in the meantime, God warns Abraham about his plan.

It also occurs in the book of Genesis. Abraham was already 99 years old when he inhabited Canaan. Three men entered his tent for lunch. At this moment, he hears the voice of the Lord saying that he would have a son.

After lunch, two of the men go to Sodom and Gomorrah. Then the second theophany takes place: speaking in the first person, God says that he will destroy the two cities.

Moses on Mount Sinai

Moses was the one who communicated the most with God; after all, he was responsible for the Ten Commandments. After several days going towards the Promised Land, the Israelites are in the desert on the mountain. The theophany occurs through a dense cloud composed of fire, thunder, lightning, and also the sound of a trumpet.

However, God wishes to speak only with Moses on high. There occurred the delivery of the laws of Israel, in addition to the Ten Commandments. Some of God's orders are known even today, such as "You shall not idolize anyone but me." To read the full text, just open the Bible in Exodus 20.

To the Israelites in the desert

Here, the theophany occurs as the Israelites walk towards the Promised Land. After fleeing from the Egyptians and being led by Moses, God makes yet another manifestation. So that his people, the Israelites, could follow safely, the Lord made an appearance in the midst of a cloud.

It served as a guide in the wilderness after the Israelites built a tabernacle, that is, a sacred place to house the Ark of the Covenant. It was composed of curtains and other materials such as gold. Returning to the theophany, each time the people could set up camp, the cloud descended to signal.

Every time it went up, it was time for the people to follow the path to the Promised Land. It is worth remembering that this walk lasted about 40 years.

Elijah on Mount Horeb

Elijah was one of the countless prophets in the Bible. Here, persecuted by Queen Jezebel in the book of I Kings, the prophet goes to the desert and then to Mount Horeb. God had promised that he would appear to Elijah.

While in a cave there was a very strong wind, followed by an earthquake and finally fire. After this, Elijah feels a gentle breeze indicating that it was God making an appearance. In this brief encounter, the prophet feels stronger after the Lord reassures him of any fears that were passing in Elijah's heart.

To Isaiah and Ezekiel

The theophanies that occurred between the two prophets are quite similar. Both have visions of the temple and all the glory of God. The two appearances are reported in the books of the Bible of each of the prophets.

Isaiah reports in the book of the same name that the flap of the Lord's garment filled the temple and He was seated on a high and exalted throne. Ezekiel saw on high above the throne the figure of a man. A man surrounded by a brilliant light.

In this way, the visions encouraged the two prophets to spread the word of the Lord throughout the people of Israel in a fervent and courageous way.

Theophany in the New Testament

Learn now how the theophanies occurred in the New Testament, which divine appearances are reported and how they happened in the second part of the Bible. It is worth noting that as there is the presence of Jesus Christ, also considered as God, the theophanies can also be called christophany.

Jesus Christ

The coming of Jesus to Earth is considered to be the greatest theophany yet. Throughout his 33 years of life, the son of God became flesh and sought to spread the Gospel, the good news, and God's love for humanity.

The story of Jesus in the Bible, which goes from his birth to his death and then resurrection, is told in four books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In all of them, some event in the life of the son of God is cited.

Another theophany associated with Jesus is when, after the resurrection, He appears to the apostles and also speaks to his followers.

A Saul

Saul was one of the greatest persecutors of Christians after the death of Jesus. He held believers to the Gospel. Until one day, a theophany happened to him: the son of God made an apparition. Jesus rebuked him for persecuting Christians. Even Saul was temporarily blinded due to the theophany.

In this, Saul repented and even changed his name from Saul of Tarsus, becoming known as Paul of Tarsus. In addition, he was one of the greatest propagators of the Gospel, being the author of thirteen books of the New Testament. It is even through these books that the Christian doctrine is based, in a first moment.

John in Patmos

This is the last theophany found in the New Testament. It relates to the last book of the Bible: Revelation. While imprisoned on Patmos, John reports having a vision of Jesus in which He revealed supernatural power to him.

But it was not only this. In this manifestation of the Son God, John was appointed that he might see the end of time. And, furthermore, he was to write about what is meant, according to the Christian religion, by the second coming of Jesus for mankind.

It is through John that Christians are prepared for Revelation and all that will occur in the so-called "end times".

Elements of Theophany in the Bible

The elements of theophany in the Holy Bible are common items existing in the manifestations of God. Clearly, not all items appear in every type of theophany. That is, there are some elements that will appear in some manifestations and others that will not. Understand now what these elements are!

Temporaneity

One of the characteristics of theophany is certainly temporariness. Divine manifestations are temporary. That is, when they achieve their purpose, God soon withdraws. However, this does not mean that God has abandoned them.

As the Bible expresses in all its books, God's faithfulness to his people is permanent. Therefore, if he could not appear in person, he sent his messengers. And even if the message sent was temporary, the legacy is eternal.

One example is the son Jesus Christ. Even spending a short time on Earth, about 33 years, the legacy he left lasts until the present day.

Salvation and Judgment

God's theophanies are quite sporadic throughout the Bible. But this is for one reason: salvation and judgment. In short, they were last resorts.

The best known manifestations were God's visit to Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament. Or when Jesus in vision visits John imprisoned on Patmos is a great proof of this.

When God, whether Father, Son or Holy Spirit manifested Himself in front of a human being it was for matters of rescue or judgment. But always prioritizing the people who followed Him. Therefore, great deliverances or stimuli were offered to spread the Gospel.

Attribution of sanctity

All the places where God performed the theophanies became, even temporarily, holy places. One of the examples, certainly, is when Abraham, still called Abram previously, on the top of the hill in Shechem erected an altar.

Or when they were on the quest for the Promised Land, the Israelites during their 40-year walk in the Wilderness built tabernacles that held the Ark of the Covenant. Each time God manifested Himself through the cloud, the place, temporarily, became holy.

After all, there was a great outcry when the Lord of Heaven descended to dialogue with mankind. Divine manifestations are quite rare, therefore the need to attribute holiness.

Partiality of the disclosures

God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Therefore, respectively, He is the One and Only Almighty of heaven and earth, His Presence is felt everywhere and that He knows everything. And, obviously, He holds so much power that human minds cannot comprehend.

That is why it is said of the partiality of the revelations. When God manifested himself, it means that mankind is not able to understand the totality of God. Just as he told Moses, that it was impossible for any living being to see all the Glory.

After all, the first thing that would happen would be death if any human were to behold the real form of God. Therefore, He does not show Himself completely in the apparitions.

Fearful response

Everything that the human being does not know and is presented to him for the first time, the initial sensation is that of fear. And in the theophanies this often occurs. Now, when God presents himself, it is often through natural phenomena.

As in the desert on Mount Sinai, thunder, the sound of a trumpet, lightning and a great cloud were heard. Therefore, for humans this indicated the unknown. When God first speaks to Moses, the phenomenon that occurs is fire in the bush.

These are inexplicable events and the first response, even if unconscious, is fear. Despite the disturbing scenario at first, when God spoke up, everyone was reassured.

Sketchy eschatology

The end of times is very well marked in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, which was only written thanks to a theophany. Imprisoned in Patmos, the apostle John has a vision of Jesus Christ that shows a little of what will be the end of everything.

However, the end times are not only evidenced in Revelation, but there are several "brushstrokes" throughout the New and Old Testament chapters. There are several omens, whether God is manifesting Himself to the prophets.

Or even Jesus Christ, in the books that tell part of his life, when he warned, still in the flesh, about the Apocalypse.

Theophanic message

The only reason for God to make direct appearances was very simple: to send a message, whether of hope, of warning, of care. Everything has always been a message. Now, an example of this is when he tells Abraham directly that he would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

Or when he relates that he desires an altar in Shechem. Even when he speaks with Moses on the top of Mount Sinai about the Ten Commandments. In fact the message is also conveyed when encouragement is needed. He does this directly with the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, who are witnesses to all the glory of the Kingdom of God.

How you should do it

To witness the theophanies or to have access to them, it is quite easy. Just read the Holy Bible. Two books of the Old Testament, Genesis and Exodus, have two fantastic appearances of the Almighty.

However, when it comes to having a theophany, it is more difficult to predict. After all, it takes a very specific moment for it to happen. Therefore, it is best to teach one way to approach God: through prayer.

Or to have a more intimate contact with God. As it says in the Bible itself, to have contact with God there is no need to go to sacred temples. It is enough to fall on your knees before going to sleep and cry out to the Lord of Heaven.

Do theophanies still happen these days?

According to the Holy Scriptures, yes. After all, the age of miracles is not over. Often theophanies occur through natural phenomena that at first glance, seem inexplicable. But God acts all the time.

After all, it is worth remembering that theophanies are the foretelling of the end times. Many believers find similarities of current events with the words written in Revelation. Worship of false gods, heinous crimes happening frighteningly and more frequently.

Another point pointed out by Christians is the greater frequency of natural phenomena, which would be manifestations of God and the end of time. So, it is correct to say yes, that theophanies still happen and as God is Omniscient, that is, He knows all the steps, everything that happened and will happen, this is His plan.