The answer
St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, “Not great in loving-kindness only, and little in wisdom, but with wisdom and loving-kindness in equal power: not seeing in part, and in part devoid of sight; but being all eye, and all ear, and all mind: not like us perceiving in part and in part not knowing; for such a statement were blasphemous, and unworthy of the Divine substance. He foreknows the things that be; He is Holy, and Almighty, and excels all in goodness, and majesty, and wisdom: of Whom we can declare neither beginning, nor form, nor shape. For ‘you have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape’ (John 5:37), says Holy Scripture. Wherefore Moses says also to the Israelites: ‘And take good heed to your own souls, for you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire’ (Deut. 4:15). For if it is wholly impossible to imagine His likeness, how shall thought come near His substance?”354
St. Augustine talks to us about this matter, saying, “Let no thought be entertained here of a bodily face. For if enkindled by the desire of seeing God, you have made ready your bodily face to see Him, you will be looking also for such a [bodily] face in God … Mark well who it is to whom you say, if indeed you do say it, and say it in sincerity, ‘My heart said to You … Your face, Lord, will I seek’ (Ps. 27:8). For so will you seek it well, because you seek with your heart. Scripture speaks of the ‘face of God, the arm of God, the hands of God, the feet of God, the seat of God,’ and His footstool; but think not in all this of human members. If you want to be a temple of truth, break down the idol of falsehood.”355
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Notes
354 St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 6.7 (NPNF II/7:35) amended.
355 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament, Volume I, trans. R. G. Macmullen (Oxford University Press, 1844) 3.7: p. 52, amended.