Sacred Fire

Exodus 3:2-5

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.' When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!' And Moses said, 'Here I am.' 'Do not come any closer,' God said. 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'”

Burning Bush as theophany

Acts 2:1-4

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Pentecostal fire as Holy Spirit

Avesta, Yasna 36:1-3

“We kindle this fire, the purifier, brought forth from Ahura Mazda by the hands of the wise. The sacred flame ascends to the heavens, driving away the darkness and the demons. By this fire, the righteous are cleansed of all corruption.”

Zoroastrian sacred fire ritual

Rig Veda 1:1:1-3

“I invoke Agni, the priest of the sacrifice, the divine messenger, the dispenser of treasures. Agni is worthy of praise by the living, by the living I invoke him. He will bring the gods here. Through Agni, may we gain strength and overcome our enemies.”

Agni as god of fire and sacrifice

Prose Edda, Gylfaginning 4

“Before all creation was Muspelheim, the realm of fire to the south, where dwell the fire giants. From Muspelheim come tongues of flame that shoot up into Niflheim, and from these sparks arose all the stars and the light of the heavens.”

Muspelheim as primordial fire realm

Deuteronomy 4:11-12

“You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow.”

Sinai fire as divine presence