by jimwalton » Wed Nov 03, 2021 10:11 am
I assume you're reading John 1.18:
“No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.”
Anytime God reveals Himself and people "see" Him, they are seeing only a partial and approximate sighting. These verses say that God is invisible (Ex. 33.20; Dt. 4.12; Col. 1.15; 1 Tim. 1.17), so anytime someone "sees" God, it's just a partial glimpse at what He's like in His totality. Even Jesus was not seen as God in all His glory. What John in particular is saying is that people were able to perceive God by looking at Jesus, but they certainly weren't seeing God in all His majesty and glory, manifested as light, truth, holiness, and splendor.
> Also, what is God's face? Why is it so important?
"God's face" is an idiomatic expression from the ancient world that means to be in his presence. Sometimes in the Bible is denotes having a relationship with God (Ex. 33.11). Most of the time it just means that someone experienced God's presence. And, like in Numbers 6.26, when God turns His "face" to you, it means he's showing you favor.
I assume you're reading John 1.18: [quote]“No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.”[/quote]
Anytime God reveals Himself and people "see" Him, they are seeing only a partial and approximate sighting. These verses say that God is invisible (Ex. 33.20; Dt. 4.12; Col. 1.15; 1 Tim. 1.17), so anytime someone "sees" God, it's just a partial glimpse at what He's like in His totality. Even Jesus was not seen as God in all His glory. What John in particular is saying is that people were able to perceive God by looking at Jesus, but they certainly weren't seeing God in all His majesty and glory, manifested as light, truth, holiness, and splendor.
> Also, what is God's face? Why is it so important?
"God's face" is an idiomatic expression from the ancient world that means to be in his presence. Sometimes in the Bible is denotes having a relationship with God (Ex. 33.11). Most of the time it just means that someone experienced God's presence. And, like in Numbers 6.26, when God turns His "face" to you, it means he's showing you favor.