What is an epiphany?
Answered from the commentary of J. N. Darby, Morrish Bible Dictionary and Max Billeter
In these passages, “epiphany” means the appearing of Christ, when He is seen or visible. It may refer to His first appearing, and it is also used of His appearing in glory. In a broader use, it includes His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Epiphaneia. Appearing. This word is 'appearance,' not 'revelation' as coming forth from being concealed, though necessarily in nature opposed, but the fact of being seen or visible.
I conclude that it is the fact of His being seen, appearing as the sunshine. Christ has appeared in the world, and He will appear again, i.e., there will be a state of things in which He will not be hid, nor non-existent but to faith, but apparent. But epiphaneia (appearing) is not the act of coming forth as apokalupsis (revelation), but the state of shining forth so as to be visible. That will be true at the instant of His phanerosis (manifestation) and of His apokalupsis, but it will continue to be true after, withal.
Manifestation, therefore, signifies that there is a point of time in the history of the person or thing at which it passes out of a concealed into a public or visible life. Scripture speaks of "God manifest in flesh." That manifestation took place at the time when He Who was God became flesh and was seen of men and angels. In like language, it is said that the Son of God was manifested. He Who was the Son, and unseen and unknown as such, appeared or was manifested "in the likeness of sinful flesh."
Manifestation, therefore, signifies that there is a point of time in the history of the person or thing at which it passes out of a concealed into a public or visible life. Scripture speaks of “God manifest in flesh." That manifestation took place at the time when He Who was God became flesh and was seen of men and angels. In like language, it is said that the Son of God was manifested. He Who was the Son, and was unseen and unknown as such, appeared or was manifested “in the likeness of sinful flesh."
It seems plain that "manifestation" is misunderstood by all who defend these speculations or deny their heterodoxy. They confound it with faith's apprehension and hence would restrict it to believers. Now its true force is simply that what existed but was hidden has come to view. Faith of course profits by it, and in some cases for testimony to others; but the manifestation is complete independently of its effects. This is true even where the object is expressed to whom the manifestation was made, as is certain from John 1:31. For our Lord was manifested to Israel; yet they, His own, received Him not. God brought Him to light for the very people that refused Him.
152 'Manifest' is in contrast with being previously hidden though in existence, though known to be so. It is applied to us only when our life is said to be 'hid with Christ in God.'
φανέρωσις (from φανερόω, 'to make manifest') occurs but twice in the N.T. and is not applied to the appearing of Christ, but to what is manifested in the Christian. In 1 Cor. 12:7 it is the "manifestation of the Spirit," and in 2 Cor. 4:2 the "manifestation of the truth."
The verb (φανερόω) occurs often: God was manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3:16; "when the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory." Col. 3:4. Again, in 1 Peter 5:4: "when the chief Shepherd is manifested, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory." See also 1 John 2:28, and 1 John 3:2. It is applied to the saints in Col. 3:4, where it is in contrast with their life being hidden (as now) with Christ in God; but, flowing out of the same wonderful identification with Him, when He is manifested they shall be manifested with Him in glory: thus the word has its force by contrast with the being previously hidden, though known to exist.
To “manifest” something means to “reveal” or to “tell” about something, to describe or to express it. Here it is used to make clear that Jesus, the Son of God, is the complete revelation of who God is. Nothing is held back. The Greek word occurs six times in the New Testament. In all other references it is translated “to relate” (Luke 24:35; Acts 10:8; 15:12.14; 21:19 - JND) which means “to report”. The word could also be rendered by: “to show” or “to explain”. In our verse the meaning is that the Son has revealed and shown God in His very essence. Those to whom God has been manifested and who have accepted the Son of God know God now in His nature. It is not a question of a mere outward appearance. In the Son can be seen who God really is – perfect love and perfect light.
The word, “manifest," irresistibly carries our thoughts backward from the date of the incarnation or of becoming flesh, marvelous as that event is. The One Who became visible is the same as He Who was invisible, for there is no change in Him personally, when manifested. The “Infinite Unseen” became visible at His manifestation in flesh. He Who dwelt “in light unapproachable" came and "dwelt among us... full of grace and truth," "the image of the invisible God."
The word, "manifest," irresistibly carries our thoughts backward from the date of the incarnation or of becoming flesh, marvellous as that event is. The One Who became visible is the same as He Who was invisible, for there is no change in Him personally, when manifested. The "Infinite Unseen" became visible at His manifestation in flesh. He Who dwelt "in light unapproachable" came and "dwelt among us … full of grace and truth," "the image of the invisible God."
Verses
- Matthew 2:1–231Now Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, behold magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem, saying, 2Where is the king of the Jews that has been born? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to do him homage. 3But Herod the king having heard [of it], was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and, assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. 5And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written through the prophet 6And thou Bethlehem, land of Juda, art in no wise the least among the governors of Juda; for out of thee shall go forth a leader who shall shepherd my people Israel. 7Then Herod, having secretly called the magi, inquired of them accurately the time of the star that was appearing; 8and having sent them to Bethlehem, said, Go, search out accurately concerning the child, and when ye shall have found [him] bring me back word, so that I also may come and do him homage. 9And they having heard the king went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the little child was. 10And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And having come into the house they saw the little child with Mary his mother, and falling down did him homage. And having opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12And being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13Now, they having departed, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, take to [thee] the little child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee; for Herod will seek the little child to destroy it. 14And, having arisen, he took to [him] the little child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt. 15And he was there until the death of Herod, that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by [the] Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the magi, was greatly enraged; and sent and slew all the boys which [were] in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he had accurately inquired from the magi. 17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremias the prophet, saying, 18A voice has been heard in Rama, weeping, and great lamentation Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19But Herod having died, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20Arise, take to [thee] the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel for they who sought the life of the little child are dead. 21And he arose and took to [him] the little child and its mother, and came into the land of Israel; 22but having heard that 'Archelaus reigns over Judaea, instead of Herod his father,' he was afraid to go there; and having been divinely instructed in a dream, he went away into the parts of Galilee, 23and came and dwelt in a town called Nazareth; so that that should be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazaraene.