Article December 25, 1909 Issue

The conclusion that God must have a face in order to...

William E. Brown

Salinas (Cal.) Journal

The conclusion that God must have a face in order to "see him face to face" is an illustration of literal interpretation. The Bible Encyclopedia makes the following interesting statement regarding the word "face": "When applied to the Almighty it denotes such a complete manifestation of the divine presence ... as was equivalent, in the vividness of the impression, to the seeing of a fellow-creature 'face to face.' The 'face of God' therefore, denotes in Scripture, any thing or manner by which God is wont to manifest himself to man." In view of this explanation it will be seen that to "see him face to face" is to become conscious of His presence and power.

It was Jesus whose hands bore the prints of the nails. Our questioner has confounded God with Jesus, who declared that he was not God but the Son of God. It will be recalled that when the rich young man addressed Jesus as "Good Master," he was rebuked in the words, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." In one of his discourses with his disciples Jesus said, "I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

At this juncture it may be asked what is meant by Jesus' statement, "I and my Father are one." By this Jesus declared that he was in perfect accord with the Father, forever executing His will. In one of Paul's epistles it is recorded that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God." Consequently it requires inspiration to understand it spiritually. When the Bible is so interpreted, the ambiguity caused by literal interpretation disappears.

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