Finiteness and sin make it impossible to gain adequate knowledge of God through human effort alone. God in mercy makes himself known through the incarnation of the Son and the illumination of human minds to understand him.
The impossibility of fully knowing God without revelation
God is beyond unaided human knowing
John 1:18 See also Exodus 33:20; Isaiah 55:8–9; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
The human mind is limited
Job 11:7 See also Job 9:4, Job 9:10, Job 23:3–9, Job 26:14, Job 36:26, Job 37:5, Job 37:23; Psalm 139:6, Psalm 145:3; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 40:13–14, Isaiah 40:28; Romans 11:33
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
The human mind cannot discern God of its own accord
2 Corinthians 4:4 See also John 1:5; Romans 1:18–32; 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 3:14; Ephesians 4:17–18
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
God is known fully only through Jesus Christ
Hebrews 1:1–2; 1 John 5:20 See also John 1:14–18, John 17:3; Colossians 1:15–20
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true — in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.