Catholic apologist Robert Sungenis, when discussing if man can see God, offered the following which shows the gymnastics and special pleading classical theists must engage in:
Seeing God
Genesis 32:30-“ I have seen God face
to face.” John 1:18- “No man hath seen God at any time...”
R.
Sungenis: Because Jacob did not see the actual God but only a man. But since
the man blessed Jacob as God would bless Jacob, for Jacob it was as if he had
seen God face to face. In other words, “face to face” was a Hebrew idiom for
being very close to someone. This is noted a few verses later when Jacob meets
Esau. Genesis 33:10: Jacob said, "No, I pray you, if I have found favor in
your sight, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is
like seeing the face of God, with such favor have you received me.” John 1:18
is speaking about God’s full glory. No man has seen it, except Jesus Christ who
was with the Father from all eternity. (Robert
Sungenis, "15 Alleged Bible Contradictions from an Atheist," copy in
my possession, p. 3)
For a (hopefully, informed) Latter-day Saint approach, see my presentation:
