Christophanies

Christophany is a term used in Christian theology to denote a manifestation or appearance of Christ to humans, especially a pre-incarnate manifestation of the Son of God in the Old Testament or in other moments when Christ is believed to have appeared. It is often treated as a subset of the broader category of theophany, which refers to divine appearances; some traditions distinguish a Christophany as an appearance of the Logos rather than of God the Father in a generic sense. The term is most common in patristic and medieval writing, though it remains in use in contemporary discussions to describe specific Christ-focused manifestations.

The word christophany derives from Greek elements meaning “Christ” and “appearance.” It is sometimes used interchangeably with expressions such as “pre-incarnate Christ” or “theophany of the Logos.” In modern biblical study, scholars may prefer to describe these events with more explicit language about the person of Christ, depending on doctrinal stance, and some reject the label altogether in favor of broader theophany categories.

Representative examples often cited include Genesis 18-19, where three visitors to Abraham are discussed in ways that some interpret as a Christophany of the pre-incarnate Christ; Joshua 5:13-15, the appearance of the commander of the Lord’s army; and Genesis 32:24-30, where Jacob wrestles with a divine being linked to Christological interpretation. Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20) is another debated case. The interpretation of these passages varies across Christian traditions and scholarly approaches.

Overall, Christophanies are a debated topic within Christology and biblical exegesis, reflecting broader questions about the nature of revelation, the identity of divine appearances, and the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.