arthra

The term "Manifestation of God" which we Baha'is use to refer to the Lord Jesus, Prophet Muhammad, the Bab and Baha'u'llah seems strange to some people.

They may not be used to hearing it.. so I thought I would draw together some of the references in the New Testament to the word "Manifest" which in Greek is "Phaneroo" and according to the Blue Letter Bible means:

1) to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way

a) make actual and visible, realised

b) to make known by teaching

c) to become manifest, be made known

d) of a person

1) expose to view, make manifest, to show one's self, appear

e) to become known, to be plainly recognised, thoroughly understood

1) who and what one is

Now some verses from the New Testament (King James version) using this term "phaneroo":

1Corinthians 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

This verse is to me prophetic.. referring to the coming of the Lord Who will bring "Light" and note "will make manifest".. very close to the term used by the Bab in referring to Baha'u'llah Him Whom God would make manifest


1Titus 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

This was pretty clear that God was made manifest and note received up into the Glory.

That term "glory" is the Greek doxa meaning:

splendour, brightness

1Peter 1:20

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Note the "manifest in these last times for you" is prophetic.

So next time someone suggests that "Manifestation of God" is such a strange term to them you might refer them to some of tehse verses in scripture.

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arthra

In Hebrew the word "manifest" is bä·rar' and means

pure, choice, chosen, clean, clearly, manifest, bright, purge out, polished, purge, purified

The very definition includes words like pure, clean and polished.. references that one associates with a Mirror and for us Baha'is the "Mirror" of the Manifestaion.

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