Quote:
Originally Posted by Originalist
This is the same Greek word used in John 1:18....
Greek word..."horaō"
to see with the eyes
to see with the mind, to perceive, know
to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience
We need only look at the rest of John 1:18 to see in which context John meant when using the word "seen' in relation to God...
"Declared"....
Greek word...."exēgeomai"
etaph., to draw out in narrative, unfold a teaching
to recount, rehearse
to unfold, declare
the things relating to God
used in Greek writing of the interpretation of things sacred and divine, oracles, dreams, etc.
The use of the word " declared" by John in relation to Christ having " declared" the God who had never been " seen" demonstrates that he was not referring to a physical viewing with natural eyes but of a perception and correct understanding of. That is the only context that makes sense here. Jesus showed us what God was really like. In Christ we " saw" God like we had never " seen" him before. |
I disagree. It's "seen" with the eyes. God was "percieved" by men in the OT. In fact even Jesus confirms this
oh 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Horao can just as easily mean "to see with the eyes".
However the real "key" is to understand John in the context of John's Jewishness. The Logos is the Greek representative of the Aramaic Memra.
Jesus being made flesh and "tabernacled among us" represents the Hebrew concept of the Shekinah (dwelling of God with men).
In Jewish thought on the OT, God Himself is invisible (
Col 1:15.
1Tim 1:17) and is only revealed through His Memra and His Glory. They distinguished between God without any visible form in heaven and God revealed audibly and visually hear on earth in Theophanies/Anthropomorphisms
I do agree Horao can sometimes refer to perception but I don't believe that is what John is saying. The Son was made flesh/Visible is being contrasted with God Invisible
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