AChristophany is an appearance or non-physical manifestation ofChrist. Traditionally the term refers to visions of Christ after hisascension, such as the bright light of theconversion of Paul the Apostle.[1]
Also, following the example ofJustin Martyr who identified theAngel of the Lord with theLogos,[2] some appearances of angels in theOld Testament are also identified by some Christians aspreincarnate appearances of Christ.[3]
Theetymology is from the GreekΧριστός (Christos) and the ending "-phany", coming from the Greek verb φαίνειν (phainein) "bring to light, cause to appear, show." This noun is derived by direct comparison with the termTheophany (Theophaneia).[4]
George Balderston Kidd (1852) popularised the term in relation to the identification of angels in the Old Testament as Christ.[5]
The term was used by Albert Joseph Edmunds (1857–1941) in relation to the revealing of Christ in Christianity and Buddhism.[6]
Since the work ofJames Borland (1978) usage of the term in conservative Christian publications related to Old Testament appearances of Christ has multiplied exponentially.[7]
Certain early Christian writers identified theAngel of the Lord as a pre-incarnate Christ. For example,Justin Martyr claimed that the Angel was the Logos. He writes that "He who is called God and appeared to the patriarchs is called both Angel and Lord ...The word of God, therefore, recorded by Moses, when referring to Jacob the grandson of Abraham, speaks thus"[8] and that "neither Abraham, nor Isaac, nor Jacob, nor any other man saw the Father ... but saw Him who was according to His will His Son, being God, and the Angel because He ministered to His will".[9]Irenaeus also held to this view; he wrote that "when the Son speaks to Moses, He says, 'I have come down to deliver this people'."[10]
A popular Christian understanding of the relationship betweenMelchizedek and Jesus is that Melchizedek is an Old Testament Christophany.[11]Romanos the Melodist interpreted the figure with whomAbraham spoke inGenesis 18:1–8 as being Christ himself.[12]
J. Douglas MacMillan suggests thatangel with whom Jacob wrestles is a "pre-incarnation appearance of Christ in the form of a man."[13] Once the man touches his hip, he's rendered helpless. If someone wants to destroy the power of a wrestler, you injure his thigh and he is finished.[14] This was narrated in a way to show that you can't get the blessing of God through manipulation. You only get God's blessings when you cling to Him in helpless dependance.[15]
Some church fathers such asOrigen and later theologians such asMartin Luther believed another example is the "Man" who appears toJoshua, and identifies himself as "the commander of the army of the LORD." (Joshua5:13–15). The standard argument that this was in fact Christ is that he accepted Joshua's prostrate worship, whereas angels refuse such worship[1]; seeRevelation19:9–10. Additionally, he declared the ground to beholy; elsewhere in the Bible, only things or places set aside for God or claimed by him are called holy; seeExodus 3:5. Jewish commentators[2] reading the same text do not accept that this figure was Christ (or evenAdonai), but rather theArchangel Michael.[16]
Jonathan Edwards identified an example inDaniel3:25, when the fourth manin the furnace is described as “… and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" or "like a son of the gods.".[17]
The vision of Isaiah (Isaiah 6) may be regarded as a Christophany. It appears to have been seen as such by John the evangelist, who, following a quote from this chapter, adds 'Isaiah said this because he saw His glory and spoke of Him' (John 12:41).
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ANew Testament Christophany isPaul's vision of Christ on theroad to Damascus, and the subsequent one ofAnanias.Acts 9 describes how Paul heard a voice from Jesus.[18]
According to theActs of the Apostles, themartyr Stephen saw a vision of Jesus "standing at the right hand of God"[19] before he was killed.
Another New Testament example isJohn's vision of the Son of Man, recounted inRevelation 1. In this vision, John sees "... one like the Son of Man" who speak to John, identifying himself as "the first and the last".[20]
InChristian art, God was always given the features of Jesus until about 1400.[21][need quotation to verify]