Condescension *

 

Condescension

 

“For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

 

With God, being the Infinite Creator, and we, being His finite creatures, it is impossible to grasp even the most basics of His essence without divine education.

 

A keyway in which this instruction develops is through a revelatory, illustrative means known as “condescension.” By this God relates to us in very human ways – in methods that we can understand.

 

This condescension is progressive – from elementary though many medial stages, then from these medial phases to those which are advanced. Thus, as we learn the foundational elements, we then move on, bit-by-bit, to greater and greater divine figures. This principle has been displayed in the past through “many portions and many modes” (Hebrews 1:1, CV).

 

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little (Isaiah 28:10).

 

Condescension, or “Anthropopatheia” as it is also known, is the figure of speech used in the Scriptures where purely human qualities are attributed to God. E.W. Bullinger (1837-1913), in one of his most monumental works, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible,[1] catalogued in detail over 200 distinct figures, several having 30 or 40 varieties; condescension is one of the more important figures of speech he defines. (He also deals with this in his Companion Bible – Appendix 6.)

 

A.E. Knoch (1874-1965) wrote concerning condescension,

 

“When God is spoken of as if He were human, or were a part of His creation, this is done in His Condescension, so that He may reveal Himself in terms within the range of human perception.” – Concordant Literal New Testament, Appendix A: Figures of Speech, page 358

 

While the word “condescension” sometimes carries the meaning of an arrogant or patronizing behavior towards someone, this is not the sense used here. “Con” is from the Latin root for “with,” and “descend” meaning “to move or go down”, thus literally to with-descend or to “go down with.” When God condescends, He comes down with us to speak at our level.

 

God condescends and speaks in human timeframes, in human terms, and with the human perspectives. This is how He progressively relates to us.

 

The basics of condescension is briefly addressed in the following articles:

 

-       “Back to Basics: God 101” (part 1; page 2344: God Is Not A Man), Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr., Bible Student’s Notebook #250;

-       “God Regrets,” A.E. Knoch, Bible Student’s Notebook #683.


[1] Originally published 1898, reprinted by Bible Student’s Press in 2014. Available at StudyShelf, and on the order form under “Bullinger.”

 

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