L295
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
PASADENA CALIFORNIA 91123

JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

September 1988

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your question concerning John 5:37.

Jesus said, "YE have neither heard his [the Father's] voice at any time, nor seen his shape." Jesus here was speaking directly to THOSE GATHERED AROUND HIM -- those who sought to kill Him, as the context of verses 16 through 19 reveals. This statement does not say that no human at any time has ever heard the Father's voice.

In fact, a few in Jesus' day heard the Father's voice conveyed from heaven to earth. It is clear from Matthew 17:5, for example, that the disciples actually heard His voice. It was the Father's voice that Jesus, and perhaps John, heard on another occasion (Matt. 3:17). There can be no doubt that it was God speaking and that Jesus recognized the voice as the Father's.

Whenever we may be of additional assistance to you in your study of the Bible, we hope you will let us know.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT

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