Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 2: Divine Attributes vs. Human Limitations
1. Introduction
The Bible consistently teaches that God is invisible, dwelling in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16), unseen by human eyes (John 1:18). Yet throughout Scripture, God appears in various forms, speaks with people, and most profoundly is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. This paradox—how an invisible God is made visible—goes to the heart of divine self-revelation and incarnation.
2. God Is Invisible
2.1 Scriptural Affirmation
- “No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18)
- “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see.” (1 Timothy 6:16)
- “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20)
- “God is a Spirit.” (John 4:24)
2.2 Theological Foundation
- God’s essence is pure spirit, not visible to physical senses.
- His transcendence makes Him unknowable by sight or form—He is qualitatively other than creation.
3. God Has Made Himself Seen
3.1 Theophanies in the Old Testament
- Genesis 18: The Lord appears to Abraham as a man.
- Exodus 3: God speaks to Moses through a burning bush.
- Exodus 33:11: “The Lord spake unto Moses face to face.”
- These are accommodated revelations—God taking visible form to communicate.
3.2 Christ: The Perfect Revelation
- “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)
- “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
- “Who is the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15)
Christ, in His incarnation, is the climactic unveiling of the invisible God—not merely symbolic, but substantial. He embodies God’s nature, character, and glory in visible, human form (Hebrews 1:3).
4. Theological Resolution: Manifestation Without Compromising Transcendence
- God’s invisibility relates to His essence, not His ability to manifest.
- In the Old Testament, His manifestations (theophanies) were temporary, veiled forms.
- In the New Testament, the incarnation is both true visibility and perfect revelation—not compromising divine nature but uniting it with human flesh.
5. Historical Reflection
- Athanasius: The invisible God “clothed Himself with a body” to reveal Himself to man.
- Augustine: God is always invisible in nature, but makes Himself known through signs and appearances.
- Aquinas: God is not seen in essence by mortal eyes but reveals Himself through effects and incarnation.
- Calvin: God accommodates Himself to human weakness, revealing only as much as we can bear.
6. Clarifying the Paradox
| Divine Attribute | Apparent Contradiction |
|---|---|
| God is invisible | Yet appeared in forms throughout history |
| God cannot be seen | Yet Christ was physically seen |
| God transcends creation | Yet entered into creation through Christ |
Resolution: God’s invisibility pertains to His divine essence. His visibility pertains to His will to reveal Himself. Through theophanies and incarnation, He accommodates Himself to be known by human beings.
7. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
7.1 We Know God Because He Has Shown Himself
- Without God’s self-revelation, we would remain in ignorance.
- Every vision of God in Scripture is initiated by God’s grace, not human effort.
7.2 Christ Is the Centre of Divine Visibility
- To know Christ is to know the Father.
- Believers grow in seeing the invisible God by beholding Christ in Word and Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
7.3 We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight
- God is still invisible to the physical eye, but clearly seen through spiritual discernment (Romans 1:20).
- The promise remains: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
8. Conclusion
The paradox of the invisible God making Himself seen affirms both divine transcendence and intimate presence. While no one has seen God in His essence, He has chosen to reveal Himself faithfully through history, culminating in Christ—the visible image of the invisible God. In Him, we behold not a shadow or symbol, but the very glory of God made manifest.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version
- Athanasius, On the Incarnation
- Augustine, Confessions
- Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I, q.12
- John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Bavinck, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics