JOSEPH W. TKACH
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
PASTOR GENERAL