Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God's Appearing (Vern S. Poythress)

Description

“A theologically rich, spiritually edifying exploration of all that the Bible says about an awe-striking reality.” —Dennis Johnson

Each time God appears to his people throughout the Bible—in the form of a thunderstorm, a man, a warrior, a chariot, etc.—he comes to a specific person for a specific purpose. And each of these temporary appearances— called theophanies—helps us to better understand who he is, anticipating his climactic, permanent self-revelation in the incarnation of Christ.

Describing the various accounts of God’s visible presence from Genesis to Revelation, theologian Vern S. Poythress helps us consider more deeply what they reveal about who God is and how he dwells with us today.

Table of Contents

Tables and Illustrations

Part I: The Biblical Theme of God Appearing

1. God Coming

2. God Appearing with a Thunderstorm

3. Appearing in Fire

4. Appearing in a Cloud

5. Appearing in Glory

6. Appearances of God's Court

7. Appearances of a Man

8. Appearing as a Warrior

9. Appearing with a Chariot

10. Other Appearances

11. Appearing in the Created World

Part II: The Mystery of God Appearing

12. Knowing God

13. Relation of Kinds of Appearances

14. Reflecting God

15. Reflecting God in Human Appearance

16. Reflections and the Spirit

17. Reflections and the Trinity

18. Reflections of God in the Book of Revelation

19. Reflections of God in Structures in Revelation

20. Patterns of Multiple Reflections

21. Reflections of God in Creation

22. A Pattern of Reflections in Clothing

23. The Dynamics in Reflections of God

24. Responding to God's Presence

Part III: A History of God Appearing: The Old Testament

25. Universal Presence of God in History

26. God's Presence in Creating the World (Day One)

27. God's Presence in Creating the World (Days Two-Six)

28. God Appearing on the Seventh Day

29. God Appearing in the Creation of Man (Genesis 2:4-25)

30. God Appearing in the Fall (Genesis 3:1-24)

31. God Appearing in Two Lines of Offspring

32. God Appearing in the Flood

33. God Appearing at Babel

34. God Appearing to Abraham

35. God Appearing to the Patriarchs

36. God Appearing in the Exodus

37. God Appearing in Conquering the Land

38. God Appearing during the Monarchy

39. God Appearing in the Prophets: Isaiah

40. God Appearing in the Prophets: Jeremiah and Others

41. God Appearing in the Poetical Books: Job

42. God Appearing in the Psalms

43. God Appearing in the Solomonic Books

44. God Appearing in Post-Exilic History (Ezra-Esther)

Part IV: A History of God Appearing: The New Testament

45. God Appearing in the Earthly Life of Christ (Gospels)

46. God Appearing in Acts

47. God Appearing in the Letters of the New Testament

48. God Appearing in Revelation

Conclusion

Appendices

Appendix A: The "Angel of the Lord"

Appendix B: A Theophany in Genesis 1:2?

Appendix C: Understanding Genesis 3:8

Bibliography

General Index

Scripture Index

Product Details

Title: Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God's Appearing 

Author: Poythress, Vern S.
 
Publisher: Crossway

Pages: 464

Binding: Paperback