What does it means, man was made in the Image of God?

[reddogs]

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Is mankind immortal, all powerful, all knowing, self-existing, present throughout the universe, No. So what attributes did man received when he was created? God is omnipotent, omniscient with other attributes which man does not have, and never did have. Now these characteristics only are of God, even though man was made in God's image. When man was created, he was made in the image of God in outward resemblance and in character, which would include what we consider able to discern, to know good from bad.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Is mankind immortal, all powerful, all knowing, self-existing, present throughout the universe, No. So what attributes did man received when he was created? God is omnipotent, omniscient with other attributes which man does not have, and never did have. Now these characteristics only are of God, even though man was made in God's image. When man was created, he was made in the image of God in outward resemblance and in character, which would include what we consider able to discern, to know good from bad.

Whenever God appeared on earth, including the incarnation of His Son, it was in the form of a man. Moreover, the context defines what the image is, man is placed on earth with dominion over all, as God is in heaven:

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Gen. 1:26-28 KJV)

[Because Man has dominion over the earth, Satan and his angels can do nothing without finding a man who will co-operate with them. ]

Finally, it is revelation of our Triune God. Man is a reverse image of that, as one looks at himself in a mirror:

Man is One Person, in three substances: Body Soul Spirit:

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:23 KJV)

That is the reflux of God's Image. He is Three Persons: Father Son and Holy Spirit, in One substance or Name:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 28:19 NKJ)

 

[Alfred Persson]

Oops. Forgot:

Man is rational, personal, free willed, and has emotions such as love for good, hate for evil.

So also God.

Recall, this image was corrupted by the fall.

 

[reddogs]

Whenever God appeared on earth, including the incarnation of His Son, it was in the form of a man. Moreover, the context defines what the image is, man is placed on earth with dominion over all, as God is in heaven:

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Gen. 1:26-28 KJV)

[Because Man has dominion over the earth, Satan and his angels can do nothing without finding a man who will co-operate with them. ]

Finally, it is revelation of our Triune God. Man is a reverse image of that, as one looks at himself in a mirror:

Man is One Person, in three substances: Body Soul Spirit:

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:23 KJV)

That is the reflux of God's Image. He is Three Persons: Father Son and Holy Spirit, in One substance or Name:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 28:19 NKJ)

Which Satan did when Adam sinned, so thus Christ says he is the 'Prince of this world' and thus the need for our redemption by Christ.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Which Satan did when Adam sinned, so thus Christ says he is the 'Prince of this world' and thus the need for our redemption by Christ.

What has Satan to do with the image of God? Genesis represents Satan as a serpent, crawling on his belly, not walking on feet upright.

Our fallen nature is why we need Christ to pay for our redemption. Satan is irrelevant to our nature.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Is mankind immortal, all powerful, all knowing, self-existing, present throughout the universe, No. So what attributes did man received when he was created? God is omnipotent, omniscient with other attributes which man does not have, and never did have. Now these characteristics only are of God, even though man was made in God's image. When man was created, he was made in the image of God in outward resemblance and in character, which would include what we consider able to discern, to know good from bad.

“Image” means "imprint", we're not immortal, all powerful, all knowing, self-existing, present throughout the universe because we're made in EARTHLY bodies, not heavenly bodies. Paul explained this in the passage about resurrection - we were born in physical bodies, we are reborn in spiritual bodies.

There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Cor. 15:40-45)

Those "attributes" you mentioned are not attributes or characteristics, but abilities. God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent because He is OUTSIDE of the universe he created, He is OUTSIDE of the system, OUTSIDE of time and space. Image of God is NOT copy or replicate of God, there're limitations of time and space in this world we're living in. What we do share with God, though, is his character of righteousness manifested in Jesus the Son, the heavenly Man, and we the church is the Body of Christ, therefore, as Paul wrote, we bear the image of the heavenly man, we're God's representatives from heaven. If you have ever engaged in some business on behalf of your company, church, school or other organization, you're the representative of that entity, in biblical language, you bear the image of that entity you came from.

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (1 Cor. 15:46-49)

 

[reddogs]

What has Satan to do with the image of God? Genesis represents Satan as a serpent, crawling on his belly, not walking on feet upright.

Our fallen nature is why we need Christ to pay for our redemption. Satan is irrelevant to our nature.

From your statement that Satan can do nothing here unless he finds a man to cooperate with him, which was the case in the Garden..

 

[Alfred Persson]

From your statement that Satan can do nothing here unless he finds a man to cooperate with him, which was the case in the Garden..

Ok. But you don't suggest God redeemed us from Satan, as though he is owed something?

reddogs said:
Which Satan did when Adam sinned, so thus Christ says he is the 'Prince of this world' and thus the need for our redemption by Christ.

 

[Whatever]

Man is rational, personal, free willed, and has emotions such as love for good, hate for evil.

I could say the same thing about my pet dog - mostly.

This has been debated since the beginning. What do people have that the intelligent animals don't.

Birds do sing, but have you ever seen 4 song birds get together to form a quartet.
Animals build nests and dens, but have you ever seen them put in plumbing, lighting and such.

Seems like creativity and imagination is one big thing. Figuring how to make a job easier and more efficient. Squirrels gather acorns, but don't band together to form a community acorn bank.

 

[Alfred Persson]

I could say the same thing about my pet dog - mostly.

This has been debated since the beginning. What do people have that the intelligent animals don't.

Birds do sing, but have you ever seen 4 song birds get together to form a quartet.
Animals build nests and dens, but have you ever seen them put in plumbing, lighting and such.

Seems like creativity and imagination is one big thing. Figuring how to make a job easier and more efficient. Squirrels gather acorns, but don't band together to form a community acorn bank.

I seem to be alone in this, but man is the "reflected" image of God if He were finite and visible (He is not):

1) God often appears as a man in theophany.

2) As in a reverse reflection of a mirror as though God were looking at a finite material version of Himself:
a) Man is One Person in Three substances: "Body Soul Spirit" (1 Th. 5:23)
b) God is Three Persons in One Substance: "Father Son Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19)

Finally, while the gulf between man and animal seems to shrink with more knowledge about animals, no study has suggested animals perceive God in any fashion.

3) Man is unique, no other earthly creature has a concept of God or even remotely aware God exists.

While plants and animals have "animating spirit" just as man does, it didn't arise in them the same way. God's Word brought them into existence, to life. But man's spirit is directly from God via Divine inbreathing:

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Gen. 2:7 NKJ)

So unlike animals, the substance of a human soul isn't just the earth and God's creative Word, but came to life via a sharing of His Spirit infusing it into our souls.

If one looked for a physical cause of our quest for God, that would be it.

 

[Fastfredy0]

What does it means, man was made in the Image of God?​

Ah, one of the most abused topics in Christian theology. If I had a nickel for every time I read someone make a point based on him being made in the Image of God incorrectly I'd be rich. Example: I have 10 toes and since I was made in the Image of God, God must have 10 toes.

Verses expounding on what aspects of our being are made in the Image of God is referred are few:
Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth".
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self—

The Image of God refers to: knowledge of God, righteousness and holiness. Any other speculations are simply that.

 

[Alfred Persson]

What does it means, man was made in the Image of God?​

Ah, one of the most abused topics in Christian theology. If I had a nickel for every time I read someone make a point based on him being made in the Image of God incorrectly I'd be rich. Example: I have 10 toes and since I was made in the Image of God, God must have 10 toes.

Verses expounding on what aspects of our being are made in the Image of God is referred are few:
Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth".
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self—

The Image of God refers to: knowledge of God, righteousness and holiness. Any other speculations are simply that.

Regenerated and renewed nature cannot be grouped under the three categories you listed: knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.

Nature is a substance, not an "idea" or "thought". Renewed nature created in God's image, doubly so.

 

[Free]

What does it means, man was made in the Image of God?​

Ah, one of the most abused topics in Christian theology. If I had a nickel for every time I read someone make a point based on him being made in the Image of God incorrectly I'd be rich. Example: I have 10 toes and since I was made in the Image of God, God must have 10 toes.

So, how many toes does God have then, if not ten? :wink

 

[Whatever]

I seem to be alone in this, but man is the "reflected" image of God

Actually I have come to believe that man as erect, with head, arms and legs might be a possibility.

Right at the beginning it says Adam and Eve "heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden." A disembodied spirit does not make a sound and doesn't walk.

Gen 32:24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. . . . 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

Exo 33:11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

Joh_1:18 No one has seen God at any time.

I am not saying that God in totality or the Godhead has these features, but maybe the Son sees Himself in this manner and thus made man in this image.

So, the "God" or "Lord" the people above saw, spoke to and even wrestled with was the Word who was in the beginning and was with God and was God.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Actually I have come to believe that man as erect, with head, arms and legs might be a possibility.

Right at the beginning it says Adam and Eve "heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden." A disembodied spirit does not make a sound and doesn't walk.

Gen 32:24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. . . . 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

Exo 33:11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

Joh_1:18 No one has seen God at any time.

I am not saying that God in totality or the Godhead has these features, but maybe the Son sees Himself in this manner and thus made man in this image.

So, the "God" or "Lord" the people above saw, spoke to and even wrestled with was the Word who was in the beginning and was with God and was God.

I agree it was the Word of God they heard in the Garden, the KJV has it right:

And they heard the voice (06963 קוֹל qowl) of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Gen. 3:8 KJV)

Like most Hebrew nouns it has various meanings and 49 times in the KJV its translated as "sound", but its most common usage is "voice" 383 times:

06963 קוֹל qowl {kole} or קֹל qol {kole}
Meaning: 1) voice, sound, noise 1a) voice 1b) sound (of instrument) 2) lightness, frivolity
Origin: from an unused root meaning to call aloud; TWOT - 1998a,2028b; n m
Usage: AV - voice 383, noise 49, sound 39, thunder 10, proclamation + 05674 4, send out + 05414 2, thunderings 2, fame 1, misc 16; 506

And your point is well taken by all, how would God's walking sound if not as the footsteps of the Pre-incarnate Jesus?

But if the image has any reference to standing erect etc., its part of a greater package.

God often appears as a man, even the angel of the LORD has the appearance of a man.

Notice how it first appears all three "men" are "Yahweh":

NKJ Genesis 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, (Gen. 18:1-2 NKJ)

I see the doctrine of the Holy Trinity implied in all such texts even if later only one of them speaks as Yahweh (Gen. 18:13ff).

So did the early Jewish and Gentile Christians. How else could John write "In the Beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God" (Jn. 1:1).

 

[Consecrated Life]

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

You can't get there from here .
God did not make man in "His Image"
God declared that man was made in "OUR IMAGE "

Gen 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

You need to define the multiple images of God before you attempt to define how man resembles them .

 

[Alfred Persson]

You can't get there from here .
God did not make man in "His Image"
God declared that man was made in "OUR IMAGE "

Gen 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

You need to define the multiple images of God before you attempt to define how man resembles them .

Don't agree. "Image" and "Likeness" are singular nouns, the Three Persons all have the same image, "One God."

If these nouns were plural, the translations would reflect that: "Images; Likenesses"

 

[Consecrated Life]

Don't agree. "Image" and "Likeness" are singular nouns, the Three Persons all have the same image, "One God."

If these nouns were plural, the translations would reflect that: "Images; Likenesses"

"Our " is the operative word:
Gen 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image,

 

[Alfred Persson]

"Our " is the operative word:
Gen 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image,

If man and wife said "this is OUR car", car is the operative word. It remains a single car.

 

[stovebolts]

If man and wife said "this is OUR car", car is the operative word. It remains a single car.

Hi,
Couple quick notes.
First, I believe strongs describes image as shadow. It’s good to keep in mind the Hebrew think about their surroundings in verbs, not nouns or at the least, describe things in their proper relationship with each other.

We see this when Adam ascribing names which denotes their proper functioning place.

So when I think about “Image” in terms of the attributes of a shadow, it serves to outline that which creates it. We are a shadow of our creator and His creation.

In terms of our image, the Trinity is assumed in my theology. However, when God creates, he also empowers his creation. Trees, birds, and everything else was brought forth through Gods creation. However, with man, God personally forms him from the dust of the earth instead of simply speaking into creation to bring him forth. As a result, we cannot minimize that within “our image” would include dirt.

But it doesn’t stop there…. God breathes life into humanity. Ahh, Devine dirt clods we are! {so says the wise Jedi Master Yoda}.

And how did Jesus impart the Holy Spirit before he ascended? Ahh, that’s right. He breathed it upon them.

Take care good friend.