What I was referring to was the verse in Matthew 5. It can be translated as "Blessed are those pure in heart, for God will behold them." In contrast to the "pure in heart seeing God."
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What does God look like?
- Thread starter rojse
- Start date
As to say, that if your heart is pure, God will bless you.
Dr. Strange
Member
I can't speak about the Mormon religion. I believe that I quoted Thomas Aquinas. Even the Mormon religion has roots in two thousand years of Christian thought. God's Word is not a literal translation of the Bible. Many think so and most fundamental Christian denominations believe so too. Frankly, most prefer a literal translation because it does not require advanced biblical scholarship. But then, a literal translation becomes what any individual wants the text to say. A literal translation depends on an individuals education, their upbringing, their religious indoctrination.
We can talk about God but we cannot define [God]. Aristotle says words express thoughts and thoughts represent things. So words refer mediately to things by way of our conceptions: we talk about things in the way we know them. Now in this life we know God only through [our temporal existence]. Summa Theologiae, Ibid.,30.
God is man's perception.
Dr. Strange
Member
What Bible translation or version are you using?
Try this version: NAB
"Blest are the single-hearted for they shall see God."
Matthew 15:10-20f; "Before God, human guilt or innocence stems from deliberate human decision . . . "
What the passage means is that man can seek answers that fulfill personal needs or man can strive to be like God; as in the image of God, Spirit.
Simply, follow the Greatest Commandment.
Nada
#
Pegg explained it beautifully.
Dr. Strange
Member
I will have to look for Pegg's explanation.
opsontai = shall be seeing
How does a translation go from makarioi (happy-are) to Blessed. I understand what the difference is but then the original meaning, "happy," refers to and individual's emotional state whereas, "Blessed" means, made holy. May be that the two go together but not alone. Hence an interpretation. "The reward of purity of heart is to see God." Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. 1968, p. 70. [43:31:8] Matthew 15: 10-20 explains what is meant by purity of heart. The passages refers to what comes out of one's mouth.
Nada
#
I shall look into it.
Dr. Strange
Member
Pegg's take on this string is correct. Understand that using Matthew 5: 8 does not in anyway describe God in any form or shape of man's imagination. It simple speaks of the heart of God, the heart of man.
Nada
#
This issue is an easy one.God has no form that humans can see.He is a spirit.He is referred to as the invisible God.
Dr. Strange
Member
Agreed. My contention is with the use of Matthew 5: 8 and its true meaning.
Nada
#
In his Sermon on the Mount, however, Jesus said: “Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8) What did Jesus mean?
2 The Scriptures identify Jehovah as an invisible Spirit. (John 4:24; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17) Hence, Jesus was not saying that we humans could actually see Jehovah with our physical eyes. True, anointed Christians will see Jehovah God in heaven after they are resurrected as spirit creatures. But humans who are “pure in heart” and have the hope of living forever on earth are also able to “see” God. How is this possible?
3 We learn something about Jehovah by carefully observing the things he created. We may thus be impressed by his power and be moved to acknowledge him as God the Creator. (Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11) In this regard, the apostle Paul wrote: “[God’s] invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship.” (Romans 1:20) So Jesus’ words about seeing God include the ability to perceive some of Jehovah’s qualities. Such seeing is based on accurate knowledge and is perceived spiritually with ‘the eyes of the heart.’ (Ephesians 1:18) The words and deeds of Jesus also reveal much about God. Hence, Jesus said: “He that has seen me has seen the Father also.” (John 14:9) Jesus perfectly reflected Jehovah’s personality. Thus, knowledge of Jesus’ life and teachings can help us to see, or perceive, some of God’s qualities.
Remain Steadfast as Seeing the Invisible One! — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY
Dr. Strange
Member
So, we are in agreement.
Nada
#
Tiapan
Grumpy Old Man
Not sure the described human form is a particularly intelligent design in the majority zero G environment of the Universe, but then again God and the bible were invented before gravity (and lack of it) was discovered and understood, unless he lives at the north pole with santa claus.
Cheers
Renji
Well-Known Member
That's the question I would like to ask. If a god does exist, how would that god look like and WHO would he/she/they/it be? The gods of olympus? Thor? the Judeo-christian god?
Nada
#
Who are you quoting? They are incorrect.God is a spirit form.He is invisible.Humans cannot see Him.When it speaks of in the image of God it does not mean literally.Not His physical appearance.It speaks of God's qualities.His attributes.Love,Wisdom,Justice and Power.
Sir Doom
Cooler than most of you
What ever it feels like looking like. Exactly.
Imaginary_Friends
Member
Is this a discussion on the Abrahamic god? There has been a plethora of people that have seen god. Jacob, in a pre-UFC fashion even wrestled him so I am sure he saw him face to face.
The LORD said unto Moses ... I will make all my goodness pass before thee ... Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live ... Thou shalt stand upon a rock: And ... while my glory passeth by ... I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts. Exodus 33:17-23
Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward. Ezekiel 8:2
God ... had horns coming out of his hand. ... Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. Habakkuk 3:3-5
Those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Zechariah 4:10
And I beheld ... a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Revelation 5:6
God is also covered in red hair…
Jacob is talking to his brother Esau when he says this:
I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God. KJV: Genesis 33:10
Luckily, the Bible describes Esau's appearance. He was all red and hairy.
And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. Genesis 25:25
^^^ Yahweh when not in Jesus/ Pillar of fire/ Cloud form lol.
The post I quoted speaks volumes in regards to how theists insert their 21st century knowledge to make these old religions seem more sophisticated then the really are. God is unknowable. Wrong. God is a ginger.
