The Image Of God Theology Religion Essay Example

the air, and over the cowss, and over all the Earth, and over every crawling thing that creeps upon the Earth. ' So, God created adult male in his ain image, in the image of God he created him ; male and female he created them. '' ( Gen 1: 26-27 ) The significance of adult male being created in God 's image is sometimes unmarked due to the complete silence of the remainder of the Old Testament on this topic ( In the Image and Likeness of God by Vladimir Lossky ) . However, the Orthodox Church lays the extreme accent on the image of God in adult male ( The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware ) . To get the similitude of God is to go deified or to go a `` God by grace '' , this is the ultimate end of Orthodox Christians.

Harmonizing to the church male parents, the footings image and similitude do non intend the exact same thing. In general, the term image can be thought of as the powers with which each one of us is endowed by God from the minute of our being. By doing proper us of being created in His image, each one of has the ability to get God 's similitude or to be deified. ( 1 )

Curiously, its significance `` image of God '' has been debated, a hot subject, if you will, for centuries in and outside of the church. Most theologists argued that it is the human head - the capacity to exert ground or reason, the mind - which marks us as being made 'in the image of God.

It besides distinguishes us from animate beings.

The statement for this is that God himself can be described as moving in conformity with ground. God 's actions, Christians affirm, are ever consistent with God 's built-in qualities, such as love, justness and clemency. God is consistent and trusty, and so can be said to be characterized by perfect ground. In making human existences, God gives them, unambiguously, a capacity for ground that reflects God 's ain ground. It is in this regard that Christians believe we are in God 's image. ( 2 )

I. Image:

The `` image of God '' is a cardinal construct in Christian divinity. It is foundational to Christian believing about human individuality, human significance, bioethics, and other subjects. Many Christians see development as incompatible with the image of God. How could God 's image carriers have evolved from simpler life signifiers? Does n't image-bearing require marvelous creative activity of worlds instead than shared lineage with Pan troglodytess? When in the evolutionary procedure did worlds achieve this image? These inquiries are tied to many other issues refering human beginnings, including the psyche, the autumn, and the historicity of Adam and Eve.

The phrase `` image of God '' does non look many times in the Bible, but the importance of the construct is emphasized by its repeat in the Bible: `` Then God said, allow us do world in our image, in our similitude, so that they may govern over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the farm animal and all the wild animate beings, and over all the animals that move along the land. So God created

world in his ain image, in the image of God he created them ; male and female he created them. '' ( Genesis 1:26-27 ) Herein, it 's clear that portion of bearing God 's image is governing over the animate beings. Genesis 9:5-6 reveals another facet of image bearing: all human lifeblood is sacred because all worlds are made in the image of God. The accent on Judeo-christian idea on the holiness of human life is derived in portion from this transition. In the New Testament, the thought is expanded farther as Christ is revealed as the true image of the unseeable God. ( 2 Corinthians 4:4, Colossians 1:15 ) .

Bing made in the image of God, says Lyons and Thompson, does non mention to the physical organic structure, the position, or the important facet of adult male. It is true that the word `` image '' ( Hebrew tselem ) is a term used in certain contexts within the Old Testament to mention to a theoretical account or to graven images ( and therefore can mention to a similarity in physical visual aspect ) . It ca n't and does n't denote such significance in Genesis 1:26-27, nor in any of the other transitions mentioning to the imago Dei ( `` image of God '' ) . God is non `` like unto gold, or Ag, or rock '' ( i.e. , He is non physical ; Acts 17:29 ) . As Ashby Camp observed: God, of class, is a spirit ( Jn. 4:24 ) , and the O.T. stresses his in materiality and invisibleness ( see Ex. 20:1-4 ; Deut. 4:15-16 )

. So, the resemblance no uncertainty relates to some intangible facet ( s ) of humanity ( 1999, p. 44 ) . Since it is the instance that a spirit `` hath non flesh and castanetss '' ( Luke 24:39 ; californium. Matthew 16:17 ) , so adult male does non bear the image of God in his physical nature. ( 6 )

`` Creation in the image of God distinguishes humankind from all other life signifiers '' said Milne in Know the Truth. Additionally, he said, `` traditional readings of the image refer to characteristics such as human cognition, moral consciousness, original moral flawlessness and immortality. '' He goes on to state some bookmans argue for a physical significance for the image. And he besides declares that others have argued for humanity 's alleged Trinitarian fundamental law, or the image as human rule. ( Gen.1:26-28. ) They are looking frontward to the reclamation of the rule in the land of God through Christ, the incarnation of the image. ( Heb. 2:5-9 ) Furthermore, more recent reading Milne says, has spoken of the societal nature of the image, human experience as being-in-community reflecting the godly being-in-community of the Godhead. Barth extended this reading specifically to the man-woman relationship. ( Gen. 1:27 ) `` God created ( humanity ) in his ain imageaˆ¦ Male and female he created them. ''

Irenaeus distinguished between the image, which he identified with human ground and moral freedom, and the similitude, he identified with original righteousness. He taught that merely the similitude was lost in autumn. This reading was followed through the mediaeval period and contributed to its basically optimistic position of

human nature. Luther, nevertheless, says that there is a instance of Hebrew correspondence in Genesis 1:26. He believed image and similitude were synonyms ; what was true for one was true for the other. The image of God, he said, `` has hence been wholly lost and can be restored merely through regeneration by the Holy Spirit. ''

There is a assortment of positions on how the image has been affected by the autumn. A common position is that the image of God refers to the human abilities which separate us from the animate beings. Still, scientists have found that abilities like communicating and reason are besides present in animate beings on a basic degree. Another position is theologists do non see the image of God as human abilities, but alternatively it as our capacity for a relationship with God. Other theologists see it as our committee to stand for God 's land on Earth. Either manner, the writer says God has given us our religious capacities and calls us to bear his image. ( 3 )

However, Milne says the Bible does n't really mention to a entire loss of the image of God. ( Gen 9:6, 1Cor. 11:7 and James 3:9. ) Calvin, radius of relics of the image of God in fallen humanity, which, while affording no footing for humanity 's justification, still separate them from the carnal creative activity history for the undoubted gifts and accomplishments of non-Christians. Dutch bookmans, in the Reformed tradition, such as A. Kuyper and H. Bavinck, spoke in this connexion of common grace, whereby God in his commiseration restrains the worst effects of the autumn and renders societal

life tolerable for world. ( 4 )

Lyons and Thompson communicate that, through the old ages, legion bookmans have suggested that the image of God spoken of in Genesis 1:26-27 refers to some kind of `` religious flawlessness '' that was lost at the clip of adult male 's autumn, and therefore is inexplicable to us today. Genesis tells us that adult male was created in a particular manner, bearing the cast of God upon him which the animate beings did non bear. Unfortunately Genesis besides tells us that he lost this cast. While Adam himself was created with this image, his noncompliance so robbed him of it that all his kids thenceforth bore non the image of God but his-and even his similitude ( 1975, pp. 103, 109, foremost emp. added, last emp. in orig. ) When we see in Genesis 1:26-27 that adult male was created in the `` image and similitude of God, '' does the linguistic communication refer merely to Adam and Eve as these authors would hold us to believe? Or does it mention to all world in general?

It is the writer 's place that the `` image of God '' spoken of in Genesis 1:26-27 does non mention to some sort of `` religious flawlessness, '' particularly sing the fact that the members of the Godhead ( Who created adult male ) are all-knowing and hence knew that adult male would transgress. Reformer Martin Luther claimed that the image was an original righteousness that was lost wholly. He averred: `` I am afraid that since the loss of this image through wickedness, we can non understand it to any extent

'' ( as quoted in Dyrness, 1972, 15:163, emp. added ) .

John Calvin likewise spoke of the image of God as holding been destroyed by wickedness, obliterated by the autumn, and absolutely defaced by adult male 's unrighteousness ( see Hoekema, 1986, p. 43 ) . Yet, at other times, he took a less `` hard-core '' attack and vacillated between a complete loss and a partial loss of the image. In his commentary on Genesis, he wrote: `` But now, although some vague qualities of that image are found staying in us, yet are they so vitiated and maimed, that they may genuinely be said to be destroyed '' ( as quoted in Hoekema, p. 45, emp. added ) . Keil and Delitzsch commented that the `` concrete kernel of the Godhead similitude was shattered by wickedness ; and it is merely through Christ, the brightness of the glorification of God and the look of His kernel ( Heb. 1:3 ) , that our nature is transformed into the image of God once more ( Col. 3:10 ; Eph. 4:24 ) '' [ 1996, 1:39 ] . Canadian anthropologist Arthur C. Custance, in his book, Man in Adam and in Christ, observed.

Feinberg, in speech production of the image of God as what he called an `` unalienable portion of adult male 's fundamental law, '' radius of that image every bit presently being in a `` scarred, corrupted, and impaired province '' ( 1972, 129:245 ) . Hoekema elaborated on the same point when he wrote: in other words, there is besides a sense in which human beings no longer decently bear the image

of God, and hence necessitate to be renewed in that image. We could state that in this latter sense the image of God in adult male has been marred and corrupted by wickedness. However, we must still see fallen adult male as an image-bearer of God, but as one who by nature images God in a deformed manner ( 1986, p. 31 ) . ( 6 )

II Likeness:

Jim Schicatano believes that `` similitude and image are different. '' Likeness, he says, `` does n't convey such clearcutness as `` image. '' To be like person means you possess many, but non all of the features of that individual. Obviously, adult male does non possess God 's omnipotence, wisdom, righteousness, flawlessness, ability to make, and divineness, he said. ( 5 )

In these others ( along with Lyons and Thompson ) differs with Schicatano in dealingss to the image/likeness of God. They say, the `` image '' ( tselem ) of God does non mention to something different than the `` similitude '' ( demuth ) of God. The Grecian and Latin `` church male parents '' often suggested a differentiation between the two words. They taught that tselem referred to the physical, and demuth to the ethical, portion of the Godhead image ( Feinberg, 1972, 129:237 ) . Other theologists ( like Irenaeus, A.D. 130-c. 200 ) taught that `` image '' denoted adult male 's unchangeable kernel ( viz. , his freedom and reason ) , whereas `` similitude '' referred to the altering portion of adult male ( i.e. , his relationship with God ) . Thus the former related to the really nature

of adult male, while the latter was that which could be lost ( Crawford, 1966, 77:233 ) . As of 1972, this still was the official position of the Roman Catholic Church ( Feinberg, 129:237 ) .

They go on to state despite the influence of those who claim that these words carry really different thoughts about the image of God, a careful survey of such transitions as Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1-3, and 9:6 reveals that, in fact, these two Hebrew words do non talk of two different entities. `` Likeness '' merely emphasizes the `` image. '' As William Dyrness noted in respect to tselem and demuth: `` The two words should be seen as holding complementary instead than viing significances. The first stresses the image of God as its being shaped and the 2nd express its being like the original in important ways '' ( 1972, 15:162 ) . Charles Feinberg, composing on `` The Image of God '' in the well-thought-of spiritual diary Bibliotheca Sacra, agreed when he remarked: A careful survey of Genesis 1:26-27 ; 5:1,3 ; and 9:6 will demo beyond inquiry that it is impossible to avoid the decision that the two Hebrew footings are non mentioning to two different entities. In short, use reveals the words are used interchangeably ( 1972, 129:237 ) .

There really is no good grounds for doing any differentiation between the two. In fact, the words are basically synonymous in this context. Keil and Delitzsch remarked in their commentary on Genesis that the two words are `` simply combined to add strength to the idea '' ( 1996, 1:39 ) . As Clark puts it: ``

Man is non two images and to separate between image and similitude is notional exegesis '' ( 1969, 12:216 ) . ( 6 )

Three Dominion:

In dealingss to rule, there seems to be a difference of sentiment as to what precisely God meant when he said, `` Let hem hold rule over the fish of the sea, and over the poultry of the air, and over the cowss, and over all the Earth, and over every crawling thing that creepeth upon the Earth. '' ( Genesis 1:26-28 )

Schicatano believes we are like God in the sense that we have been given sovereignty over the full Earth. God is responsible for the creative activity of the existence, and similarly, we are responsible for our universe. This sovereignty, nevertheless, is non a birthright of ours. It is a sacred gift, given to us from God ; it is a delegated duty. Just as God has created and formed our universe to His liking, we are capable of altering it and pull offing it to our liking. So, it is this duty that has been entrusted to us. It must non be taken for granted because finally we are answerable to God for the conditions of planet Earth and the province of our fellow human existences. ( 5 )

However, Lyons and Thompson do n't portion Schicatano belief. They convey that the `` image '' is non adult male 's domination of the lower creative activity around him. In a `` missive to the editor '' that Norman Snaith penned to the Expository Times in 1974, he boldly claimed: The significance is that God created adult male to be his

agent, his representative in governing all life animals, and he was given sufficient ( to cite the Psalm ) `` award and glorification '' to make this... . Biblically speech production, the phrase `` image of God '' has nil to make with ethical motives or any kind of ideals ; it refers merely to adult male 's domination of the universe and everything that is in it. It says nil about the nature of God, but everything refering the map of adult male ( 1974, 86:24, emp. added, parenthetical remark in orig. ) . In respect to this sort of thought, we would be wise to retrieve that adult male must be before rule can be invested in him, and that adult male has authorization because of the truth that he is made in the image or similitude of God.

Besides, the authorization is non the cause of the image or similitude, but the image and similitude is the land of the authorization ( Chafer, 1943, 100:481, emp. added ) . In noticing on this topic James Hastings wrote: `` The position that the Divine image consists in rule over the animals can non be held without an about impossible weakening of the figure, and is inconsistent with the subsequence, where the regulation over the animals is, by a separate blessing, conferred on adult male, already made in the image of God. '' The truth is that the image marks the differentiation between adult male and the animate beings, and so qualifies him for rule: the latter is the effect, non the kernel, of the Divine image ( 1976, 1:48, emp. added ) .

`` Dominion,

'' Keil and Delitzsch noted, `` is unimpeachably ascribed to adult male merely as the effect or outflow of his similitude to God '' ( 1996, 1:39 ) . As William H. Baker commented: `` [ I ] t is the presence of the image of God in people that makes them able to exert rule over the Earth. Dominion itself is non what constitutes the image '' ( 1991, p. 39, emp. in orig. ) . Although slightly closely related to the image of God, exerting rule over the universe is non itself that image. ( 6 )

Decision:

Possibly while on earth we may ne'er wholly understand what is meant by these poetries. But, upon research, some theologists, Christian Orthodoxy believe we are still in the image of God, others concur that when adult male fell his image was marred. And some agreed it was lost. However, without a uncertainty, what is clear is that in world, God has completed His concluding creative activity of the Creation Story. Let 's see what King David said of our creative activity and our particular topographic point among all of God 's creative activities. `` When I consider your celestial spheres, the work of your fingers, the Moon and the stars, which you have set in topographic point, what is adult male that you are aware of him, the boy of adult male that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the celestial existences and crowned him with glorification and award. You made him ruler over the plants of your custodies ; you put everything under his pess: all flocks and herds, and the

animals of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the waies of the seas. '' ( Psalms 8:3-8 NIV )

With the diverseness of positions, most ( Christian orthodox ) agree that each of us have been made in the image and similitude of God, and because of this, we are capable of finding our ain fate. Unlike the workss and animate beings, God has endowed us with the ability to organize a relationship with Him, the ability to increase our cognition and wisdom, and the duty of caring for the universe that He has given us.

As His primary creative activities, we are obligated to copy and demo grounds of His divineness in every country of life. Some may happen it complimentary that we have been made in His image. But, because of development many no longer prize this enigma. Matter-of-fact, some have become irresponsible stewards and have neglected the duties that it entails. Above all of His earthly creative activities, God has endowed man/womankind with a alone psyche - keeping us responsible for all of our actions. ( 5 ) One twenty-four hours we will give an history to the Creator how we 've managed ; our temples, our lives, household, resources, concerns, ministries, approvals, and this planet called Earth.

Each writer seems to hold biblical grounds to back up their theory on this controversial and extremely problematic subject. But, there was another point of amenity among them: some of the features were which represent man/woman being formed in the image of God. To call a few, we are Godheads, God created the celestial spheres and the

Earth, we 're relational, God is relational, we are communicators, God is a communicator, we are religious existences as God is a Spirit, and we are rational existences who grounds, God is intelligent and grounds excessively.

When we to the full grasp what it means to bear God 's image, we are surprisingly struck with the boundless, magnificence of our possibilities and the calamity of our unfulfilled potency! To be to the full human is to wholly reflect God 's image. Furthermore, though all worlds possess these divine capacities, each of us has the potency to show them unambiguously because God 's image has been imprinted particularly on each of us. ( 7 ) In God 's infinite creativeness there are no duplicates. Everybody is an original and is created in the image of God, which harmonizing to Orthodox Christians can ne'er be lost.

Endnotes/ Works sited:

1 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.stgeorgeserbian.us/darren/darren03.html

2 ) V. Plater- In the Image of God: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.virtualplater.org.uk/ ? page_id=2054

3 ) BioLogos: `` How could worlds have evolved and still be created in the `` Image of God? '' BioLogos is a community of evangelical Christians committed to researching and observing the compatibility of evolutionary creative activity and scriptural religion, guided by the truth that `` all things hold together in Christ. '' [ Col 1:17 ] Daniel Harrell, Senior Minister,

Colonial Church, Edina, Minn.- hypertext transfer protocol: //biologos.org/questions/image-of-god

4 ) Text Book ; `` Know the truth, '' by Bruce Milne

5 ) Jim Schicatano, '' Created in the Image and Likeness of God. '' hypertext transfer protocol: //thebibleandscience.webs.com/articles/image.htm

6 ) Lyons and Thompson- `` In the Image and Likeness of God. '' Eric

Lyons, M.Min. & A ; Bert Thompson, Ph.D. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx? category=11 & A ; article=149

7 ) Dick Staub- `` What 'Made in the Image of God ' Really Means '' By Dick Staub, March 4, 2013

( Taking a 2nd expression at a really misunderstood portion of our religion. ) hypertext transfer protocol: //www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/23549-qmade-in-the-image-of-godq