A theophany is an appearance or manifestation of God to humans. The word comes from the Greek theos, meaning “God,” and phainein, meaning “to reveal.” Theophanies are recorded throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Some major theophanies include God appearing to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3), the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19), Elijah hearing God’s voice in the whisper (1 Kings 19), Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in the temple (Isaiah 6), and John’s visions of Christ recorded in Revelation.
A theophany is a visible and/or auditory manifestation of God, giving people a glimpse of His glory and majesty. God reveals Himself through natural phenomena like fire, clouds, thunder, and wind. He also appears in human form, known as a Christophany when this appearance is of the preincarnate Christ. Theophanies inspire awe and reverence for God’s power and holiness. They remind people of God’s desire to make Himself known and be in relationship with humanity.
Some purposes and results of theophanies include:
- Revealing God’s divine nature and attributes
- Authenticating a person’s ministry or calling
- Conveying God’s will, commands, and truth
- Bringing judgment or deliverance
- Inspiring worship and obedience
- Enhancing a person’s knowledge of and relationship with God
While God can choose to appear however He wants, Scripture notes some repeated elements of theophanies across the Bible’s accounts:
- Visible manifestations – fire, light, cloud, glory
- Auditory manifestations – voice, thunder
- Natural phenomena – storm, earthquake, wind
- Divine messenger – the Angel of the Lord, a Christophany
Theophanies are distinct in purpose from other forms of divine-human interaction like dreams, visions, and the inspiration of Scripture. Dreams and visions tend to convey God’s message or reveal future events, rather than manifesting God’s presence directly to people’s senses. Inspiration of Scripture communicates God’s truth through human authors.
Notable Theophanies in Scripture
1. God Appears to Moses in the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-22)
While tending sheep near Horeb, the mountain of God, Moses saw a bush burning but not consumed. As he approached, God called him from the bush. God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and commissioned Moses to go to Egypt and deliver the Israelites from slavery. God displayed His power by turning Moses’ staff into a snake and making Moses’ hand leprous and clean again. He provided signs, like the staff, for Moses to convince others that the Lord had truly appeared to him.
2. God Descends on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-20)
As God prepared to establish His covenant with Israel, He descended on Mount Sinai with thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and a very loud trumpet blast. The whole mountain trembled violently, and the people saw flames and smoke rising from it. The fearful sights and sounds marked God’s glorious and terrifying presence, compelling the people to keep their distance and follow Moses’ instructions for consecration and worship.
3. Isaiah’s Vision in the Temple (Isaiah 6:1-13)
Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim were above Him, calling, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!” Isaiah cried out that he was ruined because he had seen the King, the Lord Almighty. A seraphim touched Isaiah’s mouth with a burning coal from the altar, cleansing away his guilt. Then the Lord commissioned Isaiah to prophesy to Judah, warning them of coming judgment but also promising that a remnant would return.
4. Ezekiel’s Vision of God’s Glory (Ezekiel 1:4-28)
Ezekiel witnessed an immense, vividly described theophany. Whirlwinds and glowing fire with flashing lightning revealed the likeness of four living creatures transporting a majestic sapphire throne. Above the throne was a figure of glowing amber and fire surrounded by radiance, like a rainbow. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. Wherever they went, the wheels and throne went without turning. The sight of God’s glory was awe-inspiring for Ezekiel.
5. Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-13)
Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became radiantly white. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus. A bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice declared, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” The disciples fell facedown in terror but eventually looked up to see only Jesus. This theophany confirmed Christ’s identity and demonstrated the continuity of His message with the law and prophets.
6. John’s Visions of Christ (Revelation 1:9-20)
John heard a loud voice telling him to record his visions. He turned and saw seven golden lampstands, and among them was “one like a son of man.” The figure was clothed in a long robe with a golden sash, with hair white as wool and eyes like flames. His face shone like the sun. John fell down as though dead when he saw this glorious heavenly vision of Christ. Jesus told him not to fear but to record what he saw for the churches.
What is a Christophany?
A Christophany is a theophany, or appearance of God, in which God manifests Himself in the Second Person of the Trinity – the preincarnate Jesus Christ. Before taking on human flesh, Jesus frequently appeared to people in physical form throughout the Old Testament period.
Christophanies exhibit God’s desire to make Himself known long before the incarnation. As the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus has always been part of creation and interacting with humanity. When people encountered God in human form prior to Jesus’ birth, they were seeing the preexistent Christ.
Some key Christophanies in Scripture include:
- The Angel of the Lord appearing to Hagar (Genesis 16)
- Abraham’s conversation with the Lord prior to Sodom’s destruction (Genesis 18)
- Jacob wrestling with a “man” who turns out to be God (Genesis 32)
- Joshua’s encounter with the commander of the Lord’s army (Joshua 5)
- Gideon’s dialogue with the Lord (Judges 6)
- Samson’s parents meeting the angel of the Lord (Judges 13)
In many cases, the Christophany involves being called the “angel” or “messenger of the Lord.” Yet it becomes clear from the context that this is no ordinary angel or messenger, but the Lord Himself. The messenger is identified with God, exercises divine authority, and displays knowledge that only God could possess. For instance, both Genesis 18 and Judges 6 switch fluidly from referring to the visitors as “men” to calling them “Lord.”
Through Christophanies, God provided guidance, delivered messages, gave encouragement, made promises, and interacted closely with people. As with other theophanies, Christophanies helped build people’s faith and understanding that God desired a personal relationship with them.
Principles for Interpreting Theophanies and Christophanies
When examining theophanies and Christophanies, key principles ensure these accounts are interpreted accurately:
- Consider the context and writing style – Apocalyptic and poetic passages may have vivid symbolic imagery, while historical passages focus on the actual events.
- Look for repeated phrases or elements that identify God’s presence.
- Remember that no one can see God in His full glory and live (Exodus 33:20).
- Keep in mind that Christophanies are God appearing in the Second Person of the Trinity.
- View the event through the perspective of the participants.
- Focus on how God chooses to reveal Himself and what the recipients learn.
Asking questions like “What attributes of God does this display?” and “What is the recipient’s response?” helps draw out key insights. Theophanies are revelatory experiences meant to unveil God’s character and move people to awe, worship, and obedience.
The Significance of Theophanies and Christophanies
Theophanies and Christophanies hold profound theological significance. First, they demonstrate that the one true living God seeks to make Himself known to humanity. Though infinitely far above His creation, God actively discloses Himself and His plans – the ultimate form of condescension. Scripture calls this God’s “revelation” of Himself.
Second, theophanies point to God’s desire for relationship. As A.W. Tozer said, “God is knowable because He wills to be known.” Theophanies vividly display this truth, showing that knowledge of God comes by His initiative. God does not remain distant and unknowable but reveals specifics about His nature, character, ways, and plans.
Third, Christophanies provide striking glimpses of Christ before His incarnation, reinforcing His eternal existence and divine nature. The one who took human form at Christmas was active throughout the Old Testament period, interacting with people, providing guidance, and displaying God’s attributes.
Fourth, the visual, tangible nature of theophanies and Christophanies communicate truth about God in powerful ways that go beyond words. Experiencing God’s glory and presence through sight, sound, natural phenomena, and even physical contact imprints spiritual realities deep in hearts and minds.
Fifth, theophanies shaped people’s understanding of who God is and cultivated worship and obedience. Experiencing the Lord’s presence and glory compelled swift, decisive action (Isaiah’s volunteering, Ezekiel falling prostrate, John’s fear). Theophanies dispel ambivalence about God and rouse people to holy fear, awe, and passionate devotion.
The unified message across Scripture’s many theophanies is that the mighty God of the universe makes Himself known and desires to be known and worshipped by ordinary people. What greater wonder than the God who holds time and space in His hands seeking relationship with humanity!