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Theophany: a Biblical Theology of God's Appearing

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Theophany: a Biblical Theology of God's Appearing “Dr. Poythress’s book walks the reader through a gallery of God’s manifold glory. This volume invites the reader to stop and consider all of the different portraits of God’s personal presence in the whole canon of Scripture. Those who look in faith will be rewarded and encouraged in their walk with Christ.” David Wenkel, Adjunct Faculty, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; author, Shining Like the Sun: A Biblical Theology of Meeting God Face to Face “This work is broader than any I have seen in its coverage of the biblical theology of theophany. I appreciate the many explanations of how each Old Testament aspect of theophany is fulfilled in Christ. The many chapters provide a spiritually uplifting study that is well organized and carefully written in terms any layman can understand, but also stimulating for advanced students.” James A. Borland, Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Theology, Liberty University “Poythress is a master at pulling together various strands of Scripture and showing their coherence. This book on the multifaceted aspects of God’s pres- ence is no exception. Theophany fills a real void in evangelical theology—in- formative for the scholar but accessible to the layman. Students often ask me about the various senses of God’s presence discussed in Scripture, and I typically give a vague answer. But now, after reading Poythress, my answers will be much more informed; and I have a first-class resource to share with my students.” Robert J. Cara, Provost, Chief Academic Officer, and Hugh and Sallie Reaves Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary; author, Cracking the Foundation of the New Perspective on Paul; contributor, A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament “In biblical times, God appeared visibly to people in many different ways, and divinely inspired authors reflected on his appearances throughout the Scriptures. Yet the modern Christian experience is so different that we are often left wondering what significance biblical appearances of God have for us today. Poythress explores this theme within its ancient historical context and explains how Christ fulfills its significance in himself and in his follow- ers’ lives. Poythress’s discussions are rooted in sound biblical scholarship, but clearly express how this facet of Scripture should enhance every Christian’s daily service to God.” Richard L. Pratt Jr., President, Third Millennium Ministries “Vern Poythress’s Theophany is a theologically rich, spiritually edifying explora- tion of all that the Bible says about an awe-striking reality that fills the pages of Scripture: our infinite, personal Creator ‘who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see’ delights to make himself known through the senses he has given us, the universe he made and sustains, and his redemptive deeds in history, culminating in Jesus Christ. This biblical theology of God’s ap- pearing will expand your thoughts and nourish your heart.” Dennis E. Johnson, Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California; author, Triumph of the Lamb; Him We Proclaim; and Walking with Jesus through His Word Theophany Other Crossway Books by Vern Poythress Chance and the Sovereignty of God In the Beginning Was the Word Inerrancy and the Gospels Inerrancy and Worldview Logic The Lordship of Christ The Miracles of Jesus Reading the Word of God in the Presence of God Redeeming Mathematics Redeeming Philosophy Redeeming Science Redeeming Sociology Theophany A Biblical Theology of God’s Appearing Vern S. Poythress ® WHEATON, ILLINOIS Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God’s Appearing Copyright © 2018 by Vern S. Poythress Published by Crossway 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, Illinois 60187 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America. Cover design: Crystal Courtney Cover image: Lightstock / Brenton Clarke First printing 2018 Printed in the United States of America Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible®. Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. The Scripture reference marked ASV is from the American Standard Version of the Bible. All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author. Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-5437-7 ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-5440-7 PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-5438-4 Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-5439-1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Poythress, Vern S., author. Title: Theophany : a biblical theology of God’s appearing / Vern S. Poythress. Description: Wheaton : Crossway, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2017025804 (print) | LCCN 2017033112 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433554384 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433554391 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433554407 (epub) | ISBN 9781433554377 (tp) Subjects: LCSH: Theophanies in the Bible. Classification: LCC BS680.T45 (ebook) | LCC BS680.T45 P69 2018 (print) | DDC 231.7/4—dc23 LC record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2017025804 Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. VP 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To my wife, Diane Contents Tables and Illustrations . 13 PART I: THE BIBLICAL THEME OF GOD APPEARING 1 God Coming . 17 2 God Appearing with a Thunderstorm . 33 3 Appearing in Fire . 41 4 Appearing in a Cloud ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 47 5 Appearing in Glory . 53 6 Appearances of God’s Court . 59 7 Appearances of a Man . 65 8 Appearing as a Warrior ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 73 9 Appearing with a Chariot . 79 10 Other Appearances . 83 11 Appearing in the Created World . 85 PART II: THE MYSTERY OF GOD APPEARING 12 Knowing God �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 99 13 Relation of Kinds of Appearances . 107 14 Reflecting God . 111 15 Reflecting God in Human Appearance . 117 16 Reflections and the Spirit ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 123 17 Reflections and the Trinity . 129 18 Reflections of God in the Book of Revelation ��������������������������������������� 137 19 Reflections of God in Structures in Revelation ������������������������������������� 145 20 Patterns of Multiple Reflections . 155 21 Reflections of God in Creation ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 167 22 A Pattern of Reflections in Clothing ����������������������������������������������������������� 173 23 The Dynamics in Reflections of God . 177 24 Responding to God’s Presence . 187 PART III: A HISTORY OF GOD APPEARING: THE OLD TESTAMENT 25 Universal Presence of God in History . 199 26 God’s Presence in Creating the World (Day One) ������������������������������� 203 27 God’s Presence in Creating the World (Days Two–Six) ������������������� 213 28 God Appearing on the Seventh Day . 221 29 God Appearing in the Creation of Man (Genesis 2:4–25) ������������� 225 30 God Appearing in the Fall (Genesis 3:1–24) . 231 31 God Appearing in Two Lines of Offspring . 239 32 God Appearing in the Flood . 247 33 God Appearing at Babel ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 251 34 God Appearing to Abraham . 255 35 God Appearing to the Patriarchs . 261 36 God Appearing in the Exodus . 271 37 God Appearing in Conquering the Land . 283 38 God Appearing during the Monarchy . 291 39 God Appearing in the Prophets: Isaiah . 305 40 God Appearing in the Prophets: Jeremiah and Others ��������������������� 323 41 God Appearing in the Poetical Books: Job . 343 42 God Appearing in the Psalms . 349 43 God Appearing in the Solomonic Books . 369 44 God Appearing in Postexilic History (Ezra–Esther) . 375 PART IV: A HISTORY OF GOD APPEARING: THE NEW TESTAMENT 45 God Appearing in the Earthly Life of Christ (Gospels) ������������������� 381 46 God Appearing in Acts . 389 47 God Appearing in the Letters of the New Testament . 397 48 God Appearing in Revelation . 409 Conclusion . 413 APPENDICES Appendix A: “The Angel of the Lord” ����������������������������������������������������������������� 417 Appendix B: A Theophany in Genesis 1:2? ������������������������������������������������������� 425 Appendix C: Understanding Genesis 3:8 . 429 Bibliography ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 433 General Index . 437 Scripture Index . 451 Tables and Illustrations Tables 17.1 God’s Attributes and Human Offices . 135 17.2 The Triune God Manifesting Himself ������������������������������������������������� 135 18.1 Features in Revelation 1:12–16 and Revelation 4–5 ����������������� 139 23.1 Stability, Dynamicity, and Relationality . 182 23.2 Unfolding of Purpose in History . 183 23.3 Unfolding Purposes in Theophany �������������������������������������������������������
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