Welcome to Word of the Day on GospelBells Radio.
Today, the word under the spotlight is Apophatic.
(Continue reading or listen as presented on the radio by Dewunmi Afolabi-Ajani)
Apophatic (pronounced ah-puh-FAT-ik) comes from the Greek word apophasis, meaning “denial” or “negation.” In Christian theology, it refers to a way of speaking about God by describing what He is not rather than what He is. This is often called negative theology.
Why? Because God is infinitely beyond human understanding. As 1 Timothy 6:16 says, He “dwells in unapproachable light.” The apophatic approach reminds us that even our highest thoughts cannot capture His essence. We can say, for example, that God is not limited, not changeable, not unjust—for His nature surpasses every created category.
Moses encountered this truth on Mount Sinai when God revealed Himself in thick darkness (Exodus 20:21). Isaiah felt it when he cried, “Woe is me!” before the Holy One (Isaiah 6:5). The apophatic tradition calls us to worship with reverent awe—to realize that mystery is not the absence of truth but the presence of infinite depth.
Yet this divine mystery does not distance us; it draws us closer. The God who cannot be fully described has made Himself known in Jesus Christ—the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). So while our words may fail, our hearts can still adore.
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Lord, You are beyond my full understanding, yet You have made Yourself known in Christ. Teach me to worship with humility, to adore what I cannot fully explain, and to rest in the mystery of Your majesty. Amen.
Now, let’s do an exercise. Can you make a Christian-themed sentence using the word Apophatic?
Here’s mine: “In moments of silent awe, my worship turns apophatic—speaking not to define God, but to adore Him.”
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