Mystery of God's Omnipresence and Omnipresent Presence

The omnipresence of God refers to the theological understanding that God is present everywhere at all times, a concept foundational to Christian doctrine. This attribute is often linked with God's omniscience, as his universal presence enables his perfect knowledge of all things ^{[7, 9, 10]}. The Bible takes God's existence for granted, referring to him by names such as 'El, 'Eloah, 'Elohim, and Jehovah ^[5].

The psalmist David articulates God's omnipresence in Psalm 139:7-12, asking, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" He concludes that whether he ascends to heaven, descends to the realm of the dead, or dwells in the farthest parts of the sea, God's hand will guide him ^{[7, 10]}. This passage highlights the infinite and immense nature of God's being, from which his ubiquity flows, filling both heaven and earth ^[7].

God's omnipresence means that nothing is hidden from him. Proverbs 15:3 states, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" ^[9]. This verse emphasizes not only God's comprehensive knowledge but also his providential oversight of all people and events ^[9]. Even the deepest and most hidden places, such as "hell and destruction," are "before the Lord," meaning they are under his watchful eye ^[12]. This ensures that even things buried out of human sight, like dead bodies, are known to God and will be accounted for in the resurrection ^[12].

The concept of God's "presence" also appears in specific contexts within the biblical narrative. The "Bread of the Presence" (LITV) in Exodus 35:13 and 39:36 refers to the showbread placed in the tabernacle, symbolizing God's constant presence among his people ^{[2, 3]}. In the New Testament, the "presence of the Lord" is associated with significant eschatological events, such as the "times of refreshing" and the "restitution of all things" that accompany the Second Coming of Christ ^[6].

The mystery of God's omnipresence is intertwined with other divine attributes. For instance, God's foreknowledge, described as an attribute whose full import humans cannot comprehend, is rooted in his infinite knowledge ^[4]. Similarly, the "mystery" of the Gospel, which was hidden in God who created all things, is revealed to make all people see the "dispensation of the mystery" ^{[1, 8]}. This mystery involves the communication of grace and the communion with the Father, Son, and Spirit that the Gospel offers to both Jews and Gentiles ^[8].

The divine nature of Christ is also understood in terms of his essential being and glory. Hebrews 1:3 describes Christ as "the effulgence of His glory," a concept that ancient theologians like Athanasius and Theophylact used to argue for the eternal being of the Son, comparing him to the inseparable brightness of light or the sun ^[11]. This understanding underscores that God's presence is not merely a spatial concept but an inherent aspect of his divine essence, extending to all persons of the Trinity.

Sources

Ephesians “Ephesians 3:9 (ASV) — and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;”
Exodus “Exodus 35:13 (LITV) — the table and its poles, and all its vessels, and the Bread of the Presence;”
Exodus “Exodus 39:36 (LITV) — the table and all its vessels, and the Bread of the Presence;”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Foreknowledge of God — Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2), one of those high attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which we cannot comprehend. In the most absolute sense his knowledge is infinite (1 Sam. 23:9-13; Jer. 38:17-23; 42:9-22, Matt. 11:21, 23; Acts 15:18).”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Second Coming of Christ, The — Time of, unknown -- Mt 24:36; Mr 13:32. Called the Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. -- Ac 3:19. Times of restitution of all things. -- Ac 3:21; Ro 8:21. Last time. -- 1Pe 1:5. Appearing of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:7. Revelation of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:13. Glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour. -- Tit 2:13. Coming of the day of God. -- 2Pe 3:12. Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- 1Co 1:8. Foretold by Prophets. -- Da 7:13; Jude 1:14. Himself. -- Mt 25:31; Joh 14:3. Apostles. -- Ac 3:20; 1Ti 6:14. Angels. -- A”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 139:7: It is of great use to us to know the certainty of the things wherein we have been instructed, that we may not only believe them, but be able to tell why we believe them, and to give a reason of the hope that is in us. David is sure that God perfectly knows him and all his ways, I. Because he is always under his eye. If God is omnipresent, he must needs be omniscient; but he is omnipresent; this supposes the infinite and immensity of his being, from which follows the ubiquity of his presence; heaven and earth include the whole creation, and the Creator fills both ”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,.... Or "the dispensation of the mystery" as the Complutensian, and several copies, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, read. The mystery is the Gospel; the fellowship of it is the communication of grace by it, a participation of the truths and doctrines of it, communion with Father, Son, and Spirit, which the Gospel calls and leads unto, and that equal concern and interest which both Jews and Gentiles have in the privileges of it. Now men are naturally in the dark about these things, and the minis”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 15:3: The eyes of the Lord are in every place,.... Which are expressive of his omniscience, of the full, clear, distinct, and perfect knowledge, which he has of all creatures and things; so that nothing is hid from him, but all open and manifest to him; as they are to Christ the essential Word, Heb 4:13; and also of the providence of God with respect to all persons in general, and to his own people in particular; and as he is infinite and immense, omnipresent and in all places of the world, so his omniscience and providence reach everywhere, to places most distant and sec”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 139 (introduction): Some of the Jewish doctors are of opinion that this is the most excellent of all the psalms of David; and a very pious devout meditation it is upon the doctrine of God's omniscience, which we should therefore have our hearts fixed upon and filled with in singing this psalm. I. This doctrine is here asserted, and fully laid down (Psa 139:1-6). II. It is confirmed by two arguments: - 1. God is every where present; therefore he knows all (Psa 139:7-12). 2. He made us, therefore he knows us (Psa 139:13-16). III. Some inferences are drawn from this doctri”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 1:3: Who being--by pre-existent and essential being. brightness of his glory--Greek, the effulgence of His glory. "Light of (from) light" [Nicene Creed]. "Who is so senseless as to doubt concerning the eternal being of the Son? For when has one seen light without effulgence?" [ATHANASIUS, Against Arius, Orations, 2]. "The sun is never seen without effulgence, nor the Father without the Son" [THEOPHYLACT]. It is because He is the brightness, &c., and because He upholds, &c., that He sat down on the right hand, &c. It was a return to His divine glory (Joh 6”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 15:11: This confirms what was said (Pro 15:3) concerning God's omnipresence, in order to his judging of evil and good. 1. God knows all things, even those things that are hidden from the eyes of all living: Hell and destruction are before the Lord, not only the centre of the earth, and its subterraneous caverns, but the grave, and all the dead bodies which are there buried out of our sight; they are all before the Lord, all under his eye, so that none of them can be lost or be to seek when they are to be raised again. He knows where every man lies buried, even Moses, ”

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