Difference between revisions of "Debate: Explain the apparent inconsistency between Ex. 33:11 and Jn. 1:18"

Revision as of 17:18, August 4, 2020

Texts:

• John 1:18: No man hath seen God at any time

• Exodus 33:11: The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.

Interpretation

The Bible is full of contradictions and is fiction

Knowing basic Bible interpretation/exegesis principles can solve these type of issues

Please see: Basic Rules for New Testament Exegesis

Knowing basic Bible interpretation/exegesis principles (linguistic/theological issues) can solve these type of issues and the internet makes this type of analysis much easier as can be seen here:

• Has anyone ever seen God?

• Is the Bible contradictory about God's visibility?

• Has anyone seen God or not?

• The Invisibility of God (Genesis 32:22-30; Exodus 24:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:17)

When one comes across a difficulty in physics where scientists have difficulty explaining something, one doesn't throw out the whole discipline of physics. The same is true of the Bible.

The Bible is full of Deep Spiritual Truths not easily understood by careless readers

The Holy Bible must be read with care. Not anyone and everyone will understand it. Especially readers who approach with holiness and prayer can be led astray. This verse has an answer when it is read prayerfully.

No one can see God in His Glory in this life. It is written, the pure of heart will see God as part of their heavenly reward. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Mat 5:8). Again St. John says one day we will see Him as He is, and then be made like Him: "Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is." (1 Jn 3:2). This is confirmed by St. John in the Apocalypse, which says, "They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads." (Rev 22:4). As clearly proven from these verses, the elect of God will see Him face to face in glory in Heaven. No one, however, in this life itself, can see God face to face as He is in glory. Man can only see, as it were, a reflection of His Presence, or a Theophany, a divine manifestation in a human form, such as some of the earlier Patriarchs and Prophets saw as a vision. Thus both passages are explained and there is no discrepancy between them. NishantXavier^{For Christ the King} 11:08, 25 July 2020 (EDT)

You just apparently contradicted the Word of God cause the Bible expresses clearly Moses spoke with the Lord face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend. Was Moses a liar and false teacher when he wrote that? RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 13:06, 4 August 2020 (EDT)

There is a spiritual message in these verses that is accessible to everyone

• John 1:27 - No man hath seen God at any time

• Exodus 33:11 - The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend

Paul says,

• 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 - we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

• 1 Corinthians 2:16 - But we have the mind of Christ.

To restate: No (natural) man hath seen God at any time... Moses had the mind of Christ enabling him to speak with the Lord face to face.

• Exodus 33:13 - Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight

Salvation is by grace.^[1] You must have the mind of Christ, without which no man can see God (or see the Kingdom of God).^[2]

See also

• Debate:Does the Catholic Church have the biblical authority of Christ Himself to preach and to teach the truth forever?‎‎
• Debate: Is there a Purgatory before Judgment Day‎‎
• Debate: Infant baptism

References