The NT records no theophanies of God in human form outside of Jesus Christ. Of course, Christ was more than a theophany; He was not just God appearing in the form of a man but He was God clothed with real and complete humanity. The angel of the Lord in Mathew 1:20, 2:13, 28:2 and Acts 8:26 seem to be an angel and nothing more; there is no evidence to the contrary. It is clear in these passages that the angel is not Jesus Christ. This fits in well with the conclusion that the angel of the Lord in the OT was not always the Lord Himself. The only possible NT theophany is the dove at the baptism of Christ.
Why this lack of NT theophanies? The reason is that there is no need for them. God is fully expressed in Jesus Christ. Jesus fully declares and reveals the Father (John 1:18). Jesus is the express image of the invisible God, thebrightness of His glory, and the express image of His person(Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3).
In the OT God chose to reveal aspects of His nature to humans thru various theophanies. In the NT era, the progressive revelation of God thru theophanies culminated and found perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is more than a theophany.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
New Testament Theophanies?
