Has anyone seen God? An Orthodox Perspective

The Bible teaches us that no human has ever seen God the Father. Nonetheless, there are certain religious texts that imply that God has uncovered Himself to some. The Holy Bible clearly states that no human has ever seen God, and no one can ever see God and live. There are those who explain that God the Father was revealed through Jesus Christ, because Jesus was God in a human form. John the Apostle and Evangelist stated: “no one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known” (John 1:18). There are theophanies in which God manifests in a physical form to people such as for example Abraham and Moses, and they see God’s glory without His face or presence. A careful investigation of Holy Scripture makes it evident that it is not possible to see God. In the book of Exodus, 33:20 for example, God tells Moses: “You cannot see My face; for no man can see My face and live”. God in His essence and nature is entirely incomprehensible and unknowable because He is incorporeal. God is unbegotten, and without beginning, changeless and without end. God is above all things that exist and above existence, since if knowledge relates to what exists, God as being above knowledge is then also above essence. Then that which is above essence is also beyond knowledge. God is thus infinite and incomprehensible. All that is understandable about Him is His infinitude and mysteriousness. What one can assert regarding God does not demonstrate God's nature, but rather only the qualities of His divine nature.