Theophany

Appearance of a deity in an observable way

Peter Paul Rubens' Death of Semele, caused by the Theophany of Zeus without a mortal disguise

Theophany (Ancient Greek: (ἡ) θεοφάνεια, romanized: theophaneia, lit. 'appearance of a deity'[1]) is an encounter with a deity that manifests in an observable and tangible form.[2][3][4] It is often confused with other types of encounters with a deity, but these interactions are not considered theophanies unless the diety reveals itself in a physical form. Traditionally, the term "theophany" was used to refer to appearances of the gods in ancient Greek and Near Eastern religions. While the Iliad is the earliest source for descriptions of theophanies in classical antiquity, the earliest description appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh.[5]

## Ancient Greek religion[edit]

See also: Epiphany (Ancient Greece)

In Greek mythology, there are a few instances of theophany. In historic times, theophanies were rare, but divine or heroic epiphanies were experienced either through dreams or waking visions. Theophanies were reenacted at a number of Greek sites and festivals. At Delphi, the Theophania (Θεοφάνια) was an annual festival in spring celebrating the return of Apollo from his winter quarters in Hyperborea. The culmination of the festival was a display of an image of the gods, usually hidden in the sanctuary, to worshippers.

## Hinduism[edit]

The most well-known Theophany is contained within the Bhagavad-Gita, one chapter of the larger epic of Mahabharata. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the god Krishna gives the famed warrior Arjuna a series of teachings. Arjuna begs for Krishna to reveal his "universal form." Krishna complies and gives Arjuna the spiritual vision, enabling him to see Krishna in the universal form.

A number of other theophanies are described in the Mahabharata.[6] First, the god Indra's appearance to Kunti, with the subsequent birth of the hero Arjuna.[7][8] Near the end of the epic, the god Yama takes the form of a dog to test the compassion of Yudhishthira. Even though Yudhishthira is told he may not enter paradise with such an animal, he refuses to abandon his companion, earning him praise from Dharma.[9]

## Judaism[edit]

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The Torah contains many instances of theophany between Yahweh, or God, and the human characters in the stories. Some examples of this are seen in the stories of the burning bush, the pillars of clouds and fire, Mount Sinai, Isaiah and Ezekiel, and David.

## Christianity[edit]

See also: Christophany

Christians generally recognize the same Old Testament theophanies as the Jews.[10][11] In addition there are at least two theophanies mentioned in the New Testament.[12][13] While some usages[14] refer to the baptisms of Jesus and John the Baptist as "theophanies", scholars eschew such usage.[3]

The 4th-century bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, b. 263 AD, wrote a treatise "On Divine Manifestation" (Peri theophaneias), referring to the incarnation of Jesus, but generally divine incarnation is not regarded as theophantic, as it lacks the "temporariness and suddenness of the appearance of God".[3]

Traditional analysis of the Biblical passages led Christian scholars to understand Theophany as an unambiguous Manifestation of God to man.[15] Otherwise, the more general term hierophany is used.[16]

### Catholic Christianity[edit]

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The New Catholic Encyclopedia cites examples of theophanies such as Genesis 3:8 and then quotes Genesis 16:7–14. In this case, initially it is an angel which appears to Hagar, however it then says that God spoke directly to her, and that she saw God and lived (Genesis 16:13).

The next example the New Catholic Encyclopedia cites is Genesis 22:11–15, which states explicitly that it was the angel speaking to Abraham (Genesis 22:11). However, the angel addressing Abraham speaks the Words of God in the first Person (Genesis 22:12). In both of the last two examples, although it is an angel speaking, the Voice is of God spoken through the angel, since it says "withhold from me". A similar case would be Moses and the burning bush. Initially Moses saw an angel in the bush, but then goes on to have a direct conversation with God himself (Exodus 3).

The New Catholic Encyclopedia, however, makes few references to a Theophany from the gospels. Mark 1:9-11, where only Jesus hears the voice from Heaven, and Luke 9:28–36 the transfiguration where the father speaks are cited.

### Evangelical Christianity[edit]

Some modern evangelical Christian Bible commentators, such as Ron Rhodes, interpret "the angel of the Lord", who appears in several places throughout the Old Testament, to be the pre-incarnate Christ, which is Jesus before his manifestation into human form, as described in the New Testament. Adaptions to his hypothesis in current evangelical research and intercollegiate debate describe these manifestations as the post-incarnate Christ (yet to be published), as though in being a divine human capable of time travel He could foretell his later incarnation as having already lived it. [17] The term Christophany has also been coined to identify post-incarnate appearances of Christ in both the Old and New Testaments. 1 St. Peter 4 (v.6) allows for the interpretation that on the Son's Father-Spirit (as the third member of the trinity fulfilling the unity of various persons as Christ is crowned King of Kings) and being conferred from the cross with the words, "Eloi, Eloi! Lama Sabachtani", was thereby born or separated as the timeless Word (or angel) of God (John 1 and 5) with the character and memory of Christ, even giving permission for creation "Let there be.." (Genesis 1) . This also has been the traditional interpretation of the earliest Church Fathers as well as the apostle Paul himself, who identifies the rock that was with Moses in the desert, and the speaking burning bush, as being Christ. For a more thorough list of "God Sightings", or Theophanies, see the examples above under "Judaism, Hebrew Bible."

### Latter Day Saint movement[edit]

Main article: First Vision

Joseph Smith, the prophet and founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, said that when he was 14 years old he was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees near his house, a Theophany in answer to his spoken prayer.[citation needed] This "First Vision" is considered to be the founding event of the Latter Day Saint movement.[18] The Book of Mormon describes other hierophanies and Theophanies that occurred in the new world.[19]

For example, Blake Ostler analysed the Throne-Theophany of Lehi in the First Book of Nephi and concluded that the Theophanies in the Bible and the Book of Mormon have much in common.[20]

> And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a Vision, even that he saw the Heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his Throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God. And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of Heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament. And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read.[21]

### Nontrinitarians[edit]

Those groups which have Arian Christology such as Jehovah's Witnesses may identify some appearances of angels, particularly the archangel Michael, as Christophanies, but not Theophanies.[22]

Those groups with early Unitarian or Socinian Christology such as Christadelphians and the Church of God General Conference identify the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament much as Jews do, simply as angels. Early Christadelphians, notably John Thomas (1870)[23] and C. C. Walker (1929),[24] integrated angelic theophanies and God as revealed in his various divine Names into a Doctrine of God Manifestation which carries on into a Unitarian understanding of God's Theophany in Christ and God being manifested in resurrected believers.[citation needed]

## Islam[edit]

The most important theophany in Islam is the Mi'raj, the Prophet's ascent into Heaven where he speaks to the Holy Spirit (Gabriel), sometimes called "a night journey from Mecca through Jerusalem."[25][26]

## Baháʼí Faith[edit]

Main article: Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)

While the Baháʼí Faith does not refer to any particular events of Theophany, they hold that God is manifest in the prophets. The "Manifestation of God" is a concept that refers to what are commonly called prophets, including, among others, Zoroaster, Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Baháʼu'lláh.[27] The Manifestations of God are a series of personages who reflect the attributes of the divine into the human world for the progress and advancement of human morals and civilization.[28] The Manifestations of God are the only channel for humanity to know about God, and they act as perfect Mirrors reflecting the attributes of God into the physical world.[29]

In his 1914 publication entitled The Reconciliation of Races and Religions, Thomas Kelly Cheyne, FBA (1841–1915), an ordained minister in the Church of England and Oxford University scholar, described Theophany within the context of the Baháʼí Faith.[30][31] Cheyne wrote, "...one feels that a Theology without a TTheophany is both dry and difficult to defend. We want an avatar, i.e. a 'descent' of God in human form".[31] Cheyne described Baháʼu'lláh as a "human being of such consummate excellence that many think it is both permissible and inevitable even to identify him mystically with the invisible Godhead."[31]: 4, 5 He wrote that Baháʼu'lláh was a "true Image of God and a true lover of man, and helps forward the reform of all those manifold abuses which hinder the firm establishment of the Kingdom of God."[31]: 4, 5

A 1991 article in the Journal of Bahá’í Studies (JBS), described "Bahá’í theophanology" as "acceptance of the Prophet, or 'Manifestation of God,' who speaks on behalf of God."[32] The author wrote that Bahá’u’lláh wrote a series of epistles in the 1860s to kings and rulers, including, Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III, Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Queen Victoria, and Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, in a "forceful, theophanic voice" calling them to undertake reforms.[32] These letters were published in a compilation entitled Summons of the Lord of Hosts in 2002.[33] The JBS article described Bahá’u’lláh's "Theophanology" as "progressivist". He claimed "spiritual Authority" in these letters in which he warned western leaders of the dangers facing humanity should they choose to not act on His Guidance.[32]

## Divine appearances to animals[edit]

Human religious lore includes ancient literary recordings of deities appearing to animals, usually with the animals able to relate the experience to humans using human speech:

* In numerous creation stories, a deity or deities speak with many kinds of animals, often prior to the formation of dry land on earth.[34]
* In the Hindu Ramayana, the monkey leader Hanuman is informed by deities, and usually consciously addressed by them.[35]
* In Chinese mythology, the Monkey King speaks with bodhisattvas, buddhas, and a host of Heavenly characters.[36]
* link - List of Native American deities

## Modern[edit]

Teofanía ("Theophany") by Mexican artist Antonio García Vega

More recently, science fiction author Philip K. Dick reportedly had a Theophany on 3 February 1974,[37] which was to become the later basis for his semi-biographic works VALIS (1981) and the posthumous Radio Free Albemuth (1985).[38][39]

In 1977, Michel Potay testified he witnessed five Theophanies. He published the text he says he received from God in "The Book", second part of The Revelation of Ares.[citation needed]

There are a large number of modern cases which have been rendered into print, film, and otherwise conveyed to broad publics. Some cases have become popular books and media, including:

* A Course in Miracles which is attested as divinely channeled[40]
* The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees in which the spirits contacted are resident in species not observed to speak in the ordinary biophysical sense of human speech[41]

These instances are distinguished from cases in which divine encounters are explicitly considered fictional by the author, a frequent motif in speculative fiction such as in Julian May's Galactic Milieu Series.[42]

## See also[edit]

* Angel of the Lord
* Beatific vision
* Darśana
* Divine revelation
* Divine inspiration
* Incarnation
* Vision (spirituality)
* The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick

## References[edit]

1. ^ Not to be confused with the festivity at Delphi – Ancient Greek: (τὰ) Θεοφάνια, romanized: Theophania.
2. ^ Harvey, Van Austin (1964). "Theophany". A Handbook of Theological Terms. New York: Macmillan. p. 241\. OCLC 963417958.
3. ^ a b c "Theophany". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012.
4. ^ Burtchaell, J. T. (2002). "Theophany". New Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13: Seq-The (second ed.). Detroit, Michigan: The Catholic University of America by Thomson/Gale. p. 929\. ISBN 978-0-7876-4017-0.
5. ^ Bulkley, Kelly (1993). "The Evil Dreams of Gilgamesh: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Dreams in Mythological Texts". In Rupprecht, Carol Schreier (ed.). The Dream and the Text: Essays on Literature and Language. Albany, New York: SUNY Press. pp. 159–177, page 163. ISBN 978-0-7914-1361-6.
6. ^ Laine, James W. (2007). Visions of God: narratives of Theophany in the Mahābhdāhata. Publications of the De Nobili Research Library, Volume 16. Vienna: Gerold & Company. ISBN 978-3-900271-19-0.
7. ^ Coulter, Charles Russell; Turner, Patricia (2013). "Arjuna". Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities. Routledge. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-13596-390-3.
8. ^ Johnson, W. J. (2009). "Kunti". A Dictionary of Hinduism. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19861-025-0.
9. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 17: Mahaprasthanika Parva: Section 3". Internet Sacrd Texts Archive.
10. ^ Kominiak, Benedict (1948). The Theophanies of the Old Testament in the Writings of St. Justin. Studies in Sacred Theology, 2nd series, number 14. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press. pp. throughout. OCLC 878155779.
11. ^ Bucur, Bogdan Gabriel (2018). Scripture Re-envisioned: Christophanic Exegesis and the Making of a Christian Bible. Leiden: Boston Brill. pp. passim. ISBN 978-90-04-38610-5.
12. ^ Mark 1:9–11 and Luke 9:28–36
13. ^ Cook, Chris (2019). "Hearing voices in Christian scripture: the New Testament". Hearing Voices, Demonic and Divine: Scientific and Theological Perspectives. New York: Routledge. p. 82\. ISBN 978-0-367-58243-2.
14. ^ "The Season of Epiphany". The Voice. Christian Research Institute.
15. ^ Ivakhiv, Adrian J. (2001). Claiming Sacred Ground: Pilgrims and Politics at Glastonbury and Sedona. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 253, note 2 and the authors there cited. ISBN 978-0-253-33899-0.
16. ^ Sharma, Arvind (2006). "The Concept of Revelation and the Primal Religious Tradition". A Primal Perspective on the Philosophy of Religion. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer Verlag. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-4020-5014-5.
17. ^ Ron Rhodes Angels Among Us: Separating Fact from Fiction – Page 117, (2008): "As we examine Scripture together, I think you too will come to see that this was no ordinary angel but was in fact the pre-incarnate Christ. Theologians call the appearances of Christ in the Old Testament Theophanies."
18. ^ "God Restored Christ's Church through Joseph Smith". Our Faith: The Restoration of the Gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010.
19. ^ Wright, Mark Alan (2011). ""According to Their Language, unto Their Understanding": The Cultural Context of Hierophanies and Theophanies in Latter-day Saint Canon". Studies in the Bible and Antiquity. Maxwell Institute for Regilious Scholarship, Brigham Young University. 3: 51–65. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
20. ^ Ostler, Blake T. (2019). "The Throne-Theophany and Prophetic Commission in 1 Nephi: A Form-Critical Analysis". BYU Studies Quarterly. 26 (4): 67–95. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2021.
21. ^ The Throne-Theophany of Lehi in the First Book of Nephi in 1 Nephi 1:8–11
22. ^ John Ankerberg, John Weldon, Dillon Burroughs The Facts on Jehovah's Witnesses 2008 Page 32
23. ^ Thomas, John (1870). Phanerosis: an exposition of the doctrine of the Old and New Testaments, concerning the Manifestation of the invisible eternal God in human nature. s.d.: R. Roberts.
24. ^ Walker, C. C. (1929) Theophany: The Bible doctrine of the manifestation of God upon earth in the angels, in the Lord Jesus Christ, and hereafter in "the manifestation of sons of God" Birmingham
25. ^ Bradlow, Khadija (18 August 2007). "A night journey through Jerusalem". Times Online. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
26. ^ Vuckovic, Brooke Olson (2004). Heavenly Journeys, Earthly Concerns: The Legacy of the Mi'raj in the Formation of Islam. Religion in History, Society and Culture, volume 5. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-96785-3.
27. ^ Smith, Peter (2000). "Manifestations of God". A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 231\. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
28. ^ Cole, Juan (1982). "The Concept of Manifestation in the Baháʼí Writings". Baháʼí Studies. monograph 9: 1–38.
29. ^ Hatcher, W.S.; Martin, J.D. (1998). The Baháʼí Faith: The Emerging Global Religion. San Francisco: Harper & Row. p. 118\. ISBN 0-87743-264-3.
30. ^ "Worldwide Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid-2010". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
31. ^ a b c d Cheyne, Thomas Kelly (1914). The reconciliation of races and religions. London: A. and C. Black. ISBN 978-0-7905-0976-1. OCLC 2779254. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
32. ^ a b c Buck, Christopher (1991). "Bahá'u'lláh as "World Reformer"". Journal of Bahá'í Studies. Association for Bahá’í Studies. 3 (4).
33. ^ Baháʼu'lláh (2002) [1868]. The Summons of the Lord of Hosts. Haifa Israel: Baháʼí World Centre. p. 137\. ISBN 0-85398-976-1.
34. ^ Leeming, David Adams, Creation myths of the world: an encyclopedia (2010)
35. ^ Valmiki, Ramayana
36. ^ Hsuan-tsang, Journey to the West
37. ^ Mckee, Gabriel (2004) Pink beams of Light from the God in the gutter: the science-fictional religion of Philip K. Dick University Press of America, Lanham, Maryland, pages 1–2, and following, ISBN 0-7618-2673-4
38. ^ Mckee, Gabriel (2004) Pink beams of Light from the God in the gutter: the science-fictional religion of Philip K. Dick University Press of America, Lanham, Maryland, page 10, ISBN 0-7618-2673-4
39. ^ Umland, Samuel J. (1995) Philip K. Dick: contemporary critical interpretations Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, page 82, ISBN 0-313-29295-7
40. ^ Shucman, Helen, A Course in Miracles
41. ^ Kaza, Stephanie, The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees
42. ^ May, Julian, Intervention: A Root Tale to the Galactic Milieu and a Vinculum between it and The Saga of Pliocene Exile (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987).

## External links[edit]

Look up theophany in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

* "Eusebius of Caesarea" at the Tertullian Project
* Photo: Theophany in Siberia
* Gemara: Megillah 10b
* The Shechina returns to Earth

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