Foggy Mirrors

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:12

Every time I open my Bible, I am reminded that God’s Word is not a book we ever finish — it is living, active, and continually unfolding. No matter how long we walk with Christ, there is always more to learn, more to unlearn, and more to understand. Revelation is not a destination; it is a relationship.

Paul reminds us that our present understanding is partial. We see truth, but not yet in its fullness — like looking into a mirror that reflects only in fragments. One day we will see clearly. One day we will know fully, just as we are fully known by God. That promise anchors us in both hope and humility.

It reminds us that we are still learning.

One passage that illustrates this beautifully is Genesis 1:1:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Hebrew word translated “God” here is Elohim — a word that is grammatically plural in form, yet most often used with singular verbs when referring to the God of Israel. That tension has shaped Christian theological reflection for centuries.

How Christians have understood Elohim

Trinitarian Christians often point to the plural form of Elohim as a subtle indication of relationality within God — a linguistic echo that becomes clearer through progressive revelation in the New Testament, where God is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Oneness Pentecostals emphasize that God is absolutely one and explain the plural form as:

• A plural of majesty, expressing greatness or supremacy
• A plural of intensity, emphasizing fullness of power
• Or simply a feature of Hebrew grammar that does not imply numerical plurality

Both interpretations seek to honor Scripture and arise from sincere faith commitments. Yet they also remind us of something important: our theological systems, while valuable, are still human attempts to articulate divine reality.

That realization changes how we approach Scripture.

We do not come primarily to defend a doctrine or protect a tradition. We come to listen. To learn. To be corrected. To allow the Word of God to shape us rather than the other way around.

The Bible does not exist to serve our systems. Our systems exist to serve the Bible.

That does not make doctrine unimportant — it makes humility essential.

I was recently reminded of this while listening to a preacher who was articulate and compelling, yet something he said did not align with Scripture. It sounded spiritual, but it was not biblical. And it reminded me again:

If we do not study the Word for ourselves, we will not recognize error when it wears the language of truth.

Discernment is not born from charisma. It is born from intimacy with Scripture and sensitivity to the Spirit.

That is why we must read prayerfully, study carefully, and remain open to correction.

“The natural person does not receive the things of the Spirit of God…” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

I did not write this to dismantle anyone’s theology or replace one framework with another. I wrote it to invite us into deeper reverence for Scripture and deeper dependence on the Spirit.

We may still be seeing dimly.

But we are seeing.

And if we keep seeking, we will see more clearly.

Hebrew Grammar Notes

• Plural Form, Singular Meaning — Elohim is plural in form (-im ending), but when referring to the God of Israel it almost always appears with singular verbs and adjectives (e.g., bara Elohim — “God created,” singular verb).

• Plural of Majesty / Intensity — Hebrew sometimes uses plural forms to express greatness, fullness, or honor, not number.

• Grammar vs. Meaning — Morphology (form) does not always equal semantics (meaning). A word can be plural in form and singular in reference.

• Progressive Revelation — God reveals Himself over time. Genesis does not need to contain full New Testament clarity to be faithful.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your Word that is living and true. Thank You that even when we see dimly, You are still revealing Yourself faithfully. Keep us humble, hungry, and teachable. Deliver us from pride, from spiritual blindness, and from the need to always be right. Teach us to love truth more than tradition and Your voice more than our own opinions. Lead us into all truth by Your Spirit, for Your glory.
Amen.