Topical Encyclopedia
The term "visible" refers to that which can be seen or perceived by the human eye. In the context of the Bible, the concept of visibility often contrasts with the invisible, highlighting the distinction between the physical and the spiritual realms. The visible world is the creation that God has made, which is evident to human senses, while the invisible pertains to the spiritual truths and realities that require faith to comprehend.
Creation and the Visible WorldThe Bible begins with the account of creation, where God brings the visible world into existence.
Genesis 1:31 states, "And God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." The visible creation reflects God's glory and power, as seen in
Psalm 19:1 : "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." The visible universe serves as a testament to God's creative authority and is a means through which humanity can perceive His divine nature.
The Visible and the InvisibleScripture often contrasts the visible with the invisible to emphasize the importance of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This verse underscores the belief in the unseen realities of God's promises and the spiritual realm. The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this in
2 Corinthians 4:18 : "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Jesus Christ: The Visible Image of the Invisible GodIn the New Testament, Jesus Christ is described as the visible manifestation of the invisible God.
Colossians 1:15 declares, "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Through Jesus, the divine nature and character of God are made visible to humanity. His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection provide a tangible expression of God's love and redemption plan.
The Transfiguration and the Visible Glory of ChristThe Transfiguration of Jesus is a significant event where His divine glory became visible to His disciples.
Matthew 17:2 recounts, "There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light." This momentary revelation of Christ's glory served to strengthen the disciples' faith and provided a glimpse of His divine nature.
The Visible ChurchThe concept of the visible church refers to the community of believers who gather together in worship and fellowship. The visible church is the earthly representation of the body of Christ, where believers are called to live out their faith in tangible ways.
Acts 2:42 describes the early church: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." The visible church serves as a witness to the world of God's kingdom and His transformative power in the lives of believers.
Eschatological VisibilityIn eschatological terms, the visible return of Christ is a central tenet of Christian hope.
Revelation 1:7 proclaims, "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him." This future event will mark the culmination of history, where the invisible realities of God's kingdom will become fully visible to all creation. The visible return of Christ will usher in the fulfillment of God's promises and the establishment of His eternal reign.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Perceivable by the eye; capable of being seen; perceptible; in view; as, a visible star; the least spot is visible on white paper.
2. (a.) Noticeable; apparent; open; conspicuous.
Greek
3707. horatos --visible... horatos. 3708 .
visible. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: horatos Phonetic
Spelling: (hor-at-os') Short Definition:
visible Definition:
visible.
...5319. phaneroo -- to makevisible, make clear
... to makevisible, make clear. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phaneroo Phonetic
Spelling: (fan-er-o'-o) Short Definition: I make clear,visible, or...
5324. phantazo -- to makevisible, to becomevisible
... to makevisible, to becomevisible. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phantazo
Phonetic Spelling: (fan-tad'-zo) Short Definition: I cause to appear...
5318. phaneros --visible, manifest
...visible, manifest. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: phaneros Phonetic
Spelling: (fan-er-os') Short Definition: apparent, clear,visible, manifest...
1717. emphanes -- manifest
... manifest. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: emphanes Phonetic Spelling:
(em-fan-ace') Short Definition: manifest,visible Definition: manifest,visible...
1491. eidos -- appearance, fashion, shape, sight.
... Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: eidos Phonetic Spelling: (i'-dos)
Short Definition:visible form, shape, appearance, kind Definition:visible form...
5316. phaino -- to bring to light, to cause to appear
... Phonetic Spelling: (fah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I shine, appear, seem Definition:
(a) act: I shine, shed light, (b) pass: I shine, becomevisible, appear, (c...
1718. emphanizo -- to exhibit, appear (in person), to declare
... in person), to declare. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: emphanizo Phonetic
Spelling: (em-fan-id'-zo) Short Definition: I makevisible, report against...
4976. schema -- figure, shape
... 4976 ("outward,visible form") is used of Jesus' earthly body (Phil 2:7,8). Christ
incarnated into a body, which was not an "exact match with typical humanity...
228. alethinos -- true.
... the suffix). See 225 (). 228 (" true") refers to what is true -- connecting
(visible) fact to its reality. 228 () then emphasizes...
Strong's Hebrew
2379. chazoth -- sight, visibility... 2378, 2379. chazoth. 2380 . sight, visibility. Transliteration: chazoth
Phonetic Spelling: (khaz-oth') Short Definition:
visible.
...7200. raah -- to see
... Definition to see NASB Word Usage access (1), advisers* (2), appear (21), appeared
(43), appears (4), approve (2), became aware (1), becamevisible (1), become...
7549. raqia -- an extended surface, expanse
... firmament. From raqa'; properly, an expanse, ie The firmament or (apparently)visible
arch of the sky -- firmament. see HEBREW raqa'. 7548, 7549. raqia. 7550...
8064. shamayim -- heaven, sky
... Dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused root meaning to be
lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to thevisible arch in...
Library
The Overturning which isvisible on Every Hand.
... Chapter Six The Signs of the Redeemer's Return 5. The Overturning which is
visible on every hand. "I will overturn, overturn, overturn...
The Evil of Sinvisible in the Fall of Angels and Men.
... Hymns. Book 2. Composed on Divine Subjects. Hymn 2:24. The evil of sinvisible
in the fall of angels and men. 1 When the great Builder...
Thisvisible World is Wonderfully to be Delighted In
... THE SECOND CENTURY 97 Thisvisible World is wonderfully to be delighted in.
Thisvisible World is wonderfully to be delighted in, and...
Thevisible World a Shadow of the Invisible.
... RELIGION OF NATURE. 182. " TheVisible World a Shadow of the Invisible. 182.
LM6l. Heber. TheVisible World a Shadow of the Invisible....
Concerning thevisible Creation.
... Book II. Chapter V."Concerning thevisible creation. Our God Himself,
Whom we glorify as Three in One, created the heaven and...
Thevisible and the Invisible Heaven.
... Book II. Chapter LXVIII."TheVisible and the Invisible Heaven. To this
Simon answered: "It seems to me to be better to believe...
And that He Should Becomevisible Amongst us -- for the Son of God...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 92 And that He should
becomevisible amongst us " for the Son of God became?...
Impiety of Attributing avisible Form to God. --The Setting up of...
... OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR CHAPTER 11. IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING AVISIBLE
FORM TO GOD."THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD....
Thevisible Heaven: Why Made.
... Book III. Chapter XXVII."TheVisible Heaven: Why Made. But Simon, perceiving
that Peter was clearly assigning a reason from the...
The Evil of Sinvisible in the Fall of Angels and Men.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 24 The evil of sinvisible in the fall of angels and men.
LM The evil of sinvisible in the fall of angels and men....
Thesaurus
Visible (12 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Perceivable by the eye; capable of being seen; perceptible; in view;
as, a
visible star; the least spot is
visible on white paper.
...Cities (427 Occurrences)
... hand, it is maintained that the "kikkar of the Jordan" lay North of the Dead Sea
for the following reasons: (1) That is the region which isvisible from the...
Ciccar
... hand, it is maintained that the "kikkar of the Jordan" lay North of the Dead Sea
for the following reasons: (1) That is the region which isvisible from the...
Plain (113 Occurrences)
... hand, it is maintained that the "kikkar of the Jordan" lay North of the Dead Sea
for the following reasons: (1) That is the region which isvisible from the...
Vapor (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) In a loose and popular sense, anyvisible diffused substance floating in
the atmosphere and impairing its transparency, as smoke, fog, etc....
Light (2869 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon
the organs of sight, objects are renderedvisible or luminous....
Images (158 Occurrences)
... Serpent (3) Teraphim (4) Image of Jealousy (5) Chambers of Imagery (6) 'Ephod
LITERATURE 1. Definition: Images, as used here, arevisible representations of...
Sacraments
... symbolic rites. Augustine's definition of a sacrament as "thevisible form
of an invisible grace" so far limited its application. But...
Tekoa (12 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Pitching of tents; fastening down, a town of Judah,
about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, andvisible from the city....
Nebo (13 Occurrences)
... Hermon nor Dan (Tell el-Qady) isvisible from this point; nor can Zoar be seen;
and if the Mediterranean is the hinder sea, it also is invisible....
Resources
What is the difference between the visible and invisible church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Shekinah glory? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus is the 'first-born' over Creation? | GotQuestions.orgVisible: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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