Images of God the Father

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If only God the Son has taken on a visible nature through the Incarnation, why is God the Father (Who is Infinite Spirit, which cannot be represented by an image) depicted in some Christian art (e.g., in the Sistine Chapel) and the Book of Daniel (chapter 7) as an old man with a human body?
 
Because we are limited in our ability as humans to conceive of anything outside our own experiences. God is presented as “father”, and an older man is a common visual device for “father”.

I’m sure there are many other ways God has been visually depicted - but as humans, we go with what we know, so we use human and earthly means of visually expressing what we are trying to say through art.

How would you depict pure spirit? Not saying it can’t be done, only that some will choose to use a human form.

~Liza
 
Thanks Liz, that explains the artistic aspect. Do you know whether Daniel’s Ancient of Days vision was an actual vision of God the Father? If so, how can we reconcile that the Father was visible to Daniel with the teaching that He is Infinite Spirit? Also, in the Gospels, Jesus says that no one has ever seen the Father, except those to whom the Son has revealed him - how do we reconcile this with Daniel’s vision?
 
Bran said:
Thanks Liz, that explains the artistic aspect. Do you know whether Daniel’s Ancient of Days vision was an actual vision of God the Father?
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I believe it is generally assumed to be the Father. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, did join Himself to a human nature, but His physical age here on earth was only 33. Of course, being God, He can do as He wills and could have assumed that appearance. (The Holy Spirit gave the impression of being a dove in John the Baptist’s vision of Him at Our Lord’s baptism.)
If so, how can we reconcile that the Father was visible to Daniel with the teaching that He is Infinite Spirit?
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God sometimes chooses to appear in physical forms in order to make His presence tangible to the visionary. He has the power to do anything He wills.
Angels (pure spiritual creatures) are also allowed to sometimes appear with physical forms. I believe it was St. Don Bosco, whose guardian angel assumed the form of a dog in order to frighten off hoodlums who intended to attack the saint.
Also, in the Gospels, Jesus says that no one has ever seen the Father, except those to whom the Son has revealed him - how do we reconcile this with Daniel’s vision?
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Here is the whole Scripture passage:
Mt. 11:27 All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.This is the passage that speaks of the necessity of Jesus’ revelation. It has to do with “knowing”, not physically seeing. (Note, He first says “no man knoweth the Son, but the Father…” – He is saying this to people who are seeing Him at the very moment He is saying it.)

There are some passages in John that speak of “seeing” the Father (cf John 6:46 and 14:9).

Nita
 
Bran said:
If only God the Son has taken on a visible nature through the Incarnation, why is God the Father (Who is Infinite Spirit, which cannot be represented by an image) depicted in some Christian art (e.g., in the Sistine Chapel) and the Book of Daniel (chapter 7) as an old man with a human body?
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Actually, an icon has been written of God the Father, without a beard.

theworkofgod.org/Library/Trinity/Father/Icon.htm

I have a copy of this icon in my bedroom, but do understand and accept that others may have qualms about this.:coffeeread:
 
I’ve always thought (someone correct me if I’m wrong) this is a symbolic image of the Father,

Revelation 4:3 “And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.”

Jesus the Lamb approaches the throne in Rev 5:7
 
Thank you all for your replies, which have brought me to a better understanding of the issue I raised. I stumbled onto a post by Copland that further clarified things:

“[J]ust as the form of the dove, in which the Holy Ghost was made manifest, is not the Nature of the Holy Ghost, nor is the form of man in which the Son Himself was manifested, the very Nature of the Son of God . . .]. ‘God has neither voice nor shape, but is above all such forms and utterances’ [Chrysostom]”.

So my understanding is that God may manifest Himself in various ways, e.g., tongues of fire at Pentecost, the Ancient of Days vision in Daniel, a dove at the Baptism of Christ, but that none of these images is the very nature of God, Who is Infinite Spirit and utterly unimaginable.

Thanks again for your time. Peace.
 
Here is another interesting passage from Chrysostom:

“wherefore He [John the Apostle] saith, “No man hath seen God at any time.” What then shall we answer to the most mighty of voice, Esaias, when he says, “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up” (Isa. vi. 1); and to John himself testifying of Him, that “he said these things when he had seen His glory”? (c. xii. 41.) What also to Ezekiel? for he too beheld Him sitting above the Cherubim. (Ezek. i. and x.) What to Daniel? for he too saith, “The Ancient of days did sit” (Dan. vii. 9.) What to Moses himself, saying, “Show me Thy Glory, that I may see Thee so as to know Thee.” (Ex. xxxiii. 13, Ex. xxxiii 13 partly from LXX.) And Jacob took his name from this very thing, being called3 “Israel”; for Israel is “one that sees God.” And others have seen him. How then saith John, “No man hath seen God at any time”? It is to declare, that all these were instances of (His) condescension, not the vision of the Essence itself unveiled. For had they seen the very Nature, they would not have beheld It under different forms, since that is simple, without form, or parts, or bounding lines. It sits not, nor stands, nor walks: these things belong all to bodies. But how He Is, He only knoweth. And this He hath declared by a certain prophet, saying, “I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes by the hands of the prophets” (Hos. xii. 10), that is, “I have condescended, I have not appeared as I really was.” For since His Son was about to appear in very flesh, He prepared them from old time to behold the substance of God, as far as it was possible for them to see It; but what God really is, not only have not the prophets seen, but not even angels nor archangels. If you ask them, you shall not hear them answering anything concerning His Essence, but sending up, “Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace, good will towards men.” (Luke ii. 14.)”

Here is the link for the whole article: http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/ancientofdays.htm
 
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