Theophany and Christ's Manifestation

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

...oubtedly speaks these words to those who have not received the gift of adoption and who despise the incarnation of the pure generation of the Word of God, defraud human nature of its elevation to God, and show themselves ungrateful to the Word of God, who became flesh for them. For it was for this purpose that the Word of God became man, and He who was the Son of God became the Son of man, so that man, being joined to the Word and receiving adoption, might become the son of God. For by no other means could we have attained incorruptibility and immortality, unless we had been united to incorruptibility and immortality. But how could we be joined to incorruptibility and immortality, unless incorruptibility and immortality first became what we are, so that the corruptible might be absorbed by incorruptibility, and the mortal by immortality, that we might receive the adoption of sons?

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to John 1:14 Direct teaching

For "the Word was made flesh." Being incorporeal, He was in the body; being impassible, He was in a passible body; being immortal, He was in a mortal body; being life, He became subject to corruption, that He might free our souls from death and corruption, and heal them, and might restore them to health, when they were diseased with ungodliness and wicked lusts.

Tertullian, Against Praxeas Direct teaching

... He must be understood to have become flesh in this sense: that He came to be in the flesh, and was manifested, and was seen, and was handled by means of the flesh, since all the other points also must be understood in this way. For if the Word became flesh by a change and transformation of substance, then it follows at once that Jesus must be a substance made up of two substances, flesh and spirit, a kind of mixture, like electrum, made of gold and silver. Then it begins to be neither gold, that is, spirit, nor silver, that is, flesh. One is changed by the other, and a third substance is produced. Therefore, on this view, Jesus cannot be God, for He has stopped being the Word, which was made flesh. Nor can He be Man incarnate, for He is not truly flesh, and it was flesh that the Word became. Being made up of both, then, He is actually neither one. He is rather some third substance, very different from either. But the truth is that we find Him clearly presented as both God and Man. The very psalm we quoted indicates, concerning the flesh, that God became man in the midst of it. “He therefore established it by the will of the Father.” Certainly, then, He is in every respect both

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith Direct teaching

There is one Son, both before the incarnation and after the incarnation. The same Son is both man and God, both together as one. The God the Word is not one person, and the man Jesus another person. Rather, the same one who existed as Son before was made one with flesh through Mary. In this way, He made Himself a perfect, holy, and sinless man, and used that divine arrangement for the renewal of mankind and the salvation of the whole world. God the Father, being Himself the perfect Person, thus has the perfect Word truly begotten from Him. He is not like a spoken word, nor like a son by adoption, in the sense in which angels and men are called sons of God, but as a Son who is by nature God. And there is also the perfect Holy Spirit, given by God through the Son to the sons of adoption, living and life-giving, holy and giving holiness to those who share in Him. He is not like an unsubstantial breath breathed into them by man, but is the living Breath proceeding from God. Therefore the Trinity is to be adored, glorified, honored, and reverenced. The Father is understood in the Son, just as the Son is of Him. And the Son is glorified in the Father, since He is of the Father, and is ma

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith Direct teaching

Moreover, the chief foundation of our salvation is the incarnation of the Word. Therefore, we believe that the incarnation of the Word took place without any change in His divinity, for the renewal of humanity. For there was no change, no transfer, and no limitation of will in the holy power of God. Instead, while that remained the same in itself, it also accomplished the work of the incarnation for the salvation of the world. And the Word of God, living on earth in human manner, also continued in the full divine presence, fulfilling all things, and being properly and individually united with flesh. And while the feelings proper to the flesh were present, the divine power kept the impassibility proper to itself. Therefore, the man who brings passibility into that power is impious. For the Lord of glory appeared in the form of a man when He undertook the divine arrangement on the earth. He fulfilled the law for men by His deeds, and by His sufferings He removed man's sufferings, and by His death He abolished death, and by His resurrection He brought life to light. And now we look for His appearing from heaven in glory, for the life and judgment of all, when the resurrection of the d

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Direct teaching

...ut whom nothing was made; the imitator of His Father’s works and powers; the image of the invisible God; who came down from heaven; who testified to what He had seen and heard; who came not to do His own will, but rather the will of the Father, by whom He had been sent for this very purpose, that, being made the Messenger of Great Counsel, He might unfold to us the laws of the heavenly mysteries; and who, as the Word made flesh, dwelt among us? From these things, this Christ is proved to be not only man, because He was the Son of man, but also God, because He is the Son of God. And if Christ is called by the apostle "the first-born of every creature," how could He be the first-born of every creature unless, according to His divinity, the Word proceeded from the Father before every creature? And unless the heretics accept it this way, they will be forced to show that Christ the man was the first-born of every creature, which they will not be able to do. Either, therefore, He is before every creature, so that He may be the first-born of every creature, and He is not man only, because man is after every creature; or He is man only, and He is after every creature. And how is He the

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings Direct teaching

and we saw Christ our Saviour, who was made known as both God and man.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching

2. And then, again, this Word was manifested when the Word of God was made man, assimilating Himself to man, and man to Himself, so that by means of his resemblance to the Son, man might become precious to the Father.

John 1:14 Direct teaching

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

1 John 4:2 Direct teaching

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1 John 4:3 Direct teaching

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 Timothy 3:16 Supporting witness

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Direct teaching

4. As John says these things to the multitude, and as the people watch in eager expectation of seeing some strange spectacle with their bodily eyes, and the devil is struck with amazement at such a testimony from John, lo, the Lord appears, plain, solitary, uncovered, without escort, having on Him the body of man like a garment, and hiding the dignity of the Divinity, that He may elude the snares of the dragon.

Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany Supporting witness

This is my beloved Son, He who, being manifested on earth and yet unseparated from the Father's bosom, was manifested, and yet did not appear.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...e rest from their work on the Ascension, because it was the conclusion of the divine arrangement by Christ. Let them rest at Pentecost, because of the coming of the Holy Spirit, who was given to those who believed in Christ. Let them rest on the festival of His birth, because on it an unexpected favor was granted to men: that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, should be born of the Virgin Mary for the salvation of the world. Let them rest on the festival of Epiphany, because on it there was a manifestation of the divinity of Christ. For the Father bore witness to Him at His baptism, and the Paraclete, in the form of a dove, pointed out to the bystanders the One about whom that witness was given. Let them rest on the days of the apostles, for they were appointed as your teachers to bring you to Christ and made you worthy of the Spirit. Let them rest on the day of the first martyr Stephen, and on the days of the other holy martyrs who chose Christ over their own life.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Let them rest on the festival of Epiphany, because on it a manifestation took place of the divinity of Christ, for the Father bore testimony to Him at the baptism;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

after which let the Epiphany be to you the most honoured, in which the Lord made to you a display of His own Godhead, and let it take place on the sixth of the tenth month;

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

XXXIV. We present them to You also, O Lord, for the holy places, which You have glorified by the divine appearing of Your Christ, and by the visitation of Your all-holy Spirit;

Matthew 3:16 Background

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

Luke 3:22 Background

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Matthew 17:5 Background

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

Cyprian, Connection to Matthew 17:5 Supporting witness

And that Christ alone ought to be heard, the Father also testifies from heaven, saying, "This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him."

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

...your nation, for the Spirit in the prophets anointed and established your kings. However, after the manifestation and death of Jesus Christ in your nation, there has been no prophet, and you ceased to exist under your own king. Your land was devastated and left desolate like a shelter in a vineyard. Jacob's statement in Scripture, "And He shall be the desire of nations," symbolically referred to His two comings and that the nations would believe in Him. This is now clear, for those from all nations who are pious and righteous through faith in Christ anticipate His future appearance.

Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching

These, then, shall come and proclaim the manifestation of Christ that is to be from heaven;

Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness

...o of the glory of that one of the sacred Trinity who is to be worshiped by all, and who now, by the appearing of God in the flesh, has even come down to earth. They say, "The whole earth is full of His glory." For we believe that, together with the Son, who was made man for our sake according to the good pleasure of His will, the Father also was present, who is inseparable from Him in His divine nature, and also the Spirit, who is of one and the same essence with Him. For, as Paul says, the interpreter of the divine oracle, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them." 2 Corinthians 5:19 He thus shows that the Father was in the Son, because one and the same will was at work in them.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

That coming, by His holy and good and glorious appearing, He may sanctify this bread, and make it the holy body of Your Christ.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

For Christ is King, and Priest, and God, and Lord, and angel, and man, and captain, and stone, and a Son born, and first made subject to suffering, then returning to heaven, and again coming with glory, and He is preached as having the everlasting kingdom: so I prove from all the Scriptures.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Background

the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, His passion, and the resurrection itself.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness

He is called Christ on this account, because He Himself will come from heaven at the end of this dispensation to judge the world, and, having raised the dead, to establish for Himself an everlasting kingdom.

1 Peter 1:11 Background

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1 Peter 1:20 Background

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Matthew 1:23 Background

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

...ruths our Lord has declared. Therefore, the Son reveals the knowledge of the Father through His own manifestation. For the manifestation of the Son is the knowledge of the Father, as all things are shown through the Word. So that we might know that the Son who came is the one who gives knowledge of the Father to those who believe in Him, He said to His disciples, “No one knows the Son but the Father, nor the Father but the Son, and those to whom the Son reveals Him,” thus presenting Himself and the Father as they truly are, so that we may not accept any other Father except Him who is revealed by the Son.

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

...ir insight into the mysteries of divinity, since the Word of God was their teacher before He became flesh. For He was always working, in imitation of His Father, of whom He says, "My Father works hitherto." On this point we may bring forward the words He addresses to the Sadducees, who do not believe the doctrine of the resurrection. "Have you not read," He says, Mark 12:26, "what is said by God at the Bush, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." If, then, God is not ashamed to be called the God of these men, and if they are counted by Christ among the living, and if all believers are sons of Abraham, Romans 4:11, since all the Gentiles are blessed with faithful Abraham, who is appointed by God to be a father of the Gentiles, can we hesitate to admit that those living persons made acquaintance with the learning of living men, and were taught by Christ, who was born before the daystar, before He became flesh? And for this cause they lived, because they had part in Him who said, "I am the life," and, as the heirs of so great promises, received the vision not only of angels but of God in Christ. For t

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to John 1:18 Supporting witness

one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not proceeding forth from silence.

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

"And the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In the section before this, my revered brother Ambrosius, brother formed according to the Gospel, we discussed, as far as we are able at present, what the Gospel is, and what the beginning is in which the Word was, and what the Word is that was in the beginning. Now we come to consider the next point before us: how the Word was with God. For this purpose, it will help to remember that what is called the Word came to certain persons. For example, "The Word of the Lord," in Hosea 1:1, came to Hosea the son of Beeri; and "The Word," in Isaiah 2:1, came to Isaiah the son of Amos, concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem; and "The Word which came to Jeremiah," in Jeremiah 14:1, was concerning the drought. We must ask how this Word came to Hosea, and how it also came to Isaiah the son of Amos, and again to Jeremiah concerning the drought. The comparison may help us find out how the Word was with God. Most people will simply look at what the prophets said, as if that were the Word of the Lord, or the Word, that came to them. But perhaps, just as we say that one person comes to another, the Son, the Word, of whom we are now speaking theol

John 1:18 Background

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

1 John 1:3 Background

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:1 Background

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;