What is a theophany? What is a Christophany?

Answer

A theophany is a manifestation of God in the Bible that is perceptible to the human senses. In its most specific sense, it is a visible manifestation of God in the Old Testament era, frequently, though not always, in human form. Some of the theophanies are recorded in the following passages:

1. Genesis 12:7-9 – The Lord appeared to Abraham upon his arrival in the land God had promised to him and his descendants.

2. Genesis 18:1-33 – One day, Abraham had some visitors: two angels and God Himself. He welcomed them into his home, and he and Sarah hosted them. Many scholars suggest this could also be a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.

3. Genesis 32:22-30 – Jacob wrestled with what seemed to be a man, but was actually God (vv. 28-30). This too may have been a Christophany.

4. Exodus 3:2 – 4:17 – God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, instructing him on what He wanted him to do.

5. Exodus 24:9-11 – God appeared to Moses along with Aaron, his sons, and the seventy elders.

6. Deuteronomy 31:14-15 – God appeared to Moses and Joshua during the transfer of leadership to Joshua.

7. Job 38–42 – God responded to Job from the tempest and spoke extensively in reply to Job’s inquiries.

Often, the term “glory of the Lord” signifies a theophany, as in Exodus 24:16-18; the “pillar of cloud” serves a similar purpose in Exodus 33:9. A common precursor for theophanies can be observed in the phrase “the Lord came down,” as in Genesis 11:5; Exodus 34:5; Numbers 11:25; and 12:5.

Some Bible scholars posit that whenever someone encountered “the angel of the Lord,” this was indeed the pre-incarnate Christ. These encounters are evident in Genesis 16:7-14; Genesis 22:11-18; Judges 5:23; 2 Kings 19:35; and other passages. Others believe these were angelophanies, or appearances of angels. While there are no indisputableIn the Christophanies in the Old Testament, every theophany in which God takes on human form foreshadows the incarnation. This is when God took the form of a man to live among us as Emmanuel, meaning “God with us” «Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. », (Matthew 1:23).