What does it mean to be made in the image of God?

[Mark Quayle]

When it says in the Bible that we were made in the image of God, what is it talking about?

 

[Marilyn C]

Hi Mark,

How wonderful to be made in the image of God. I believe that refers to our having - a will, a mind and emotions. I see that in the Godhead, in each person of the Godhead.

regards, Marilyn.

 

[ewq1938]

Gen 1:26 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.

image
H6754
???
tselem
tseh'-lem
From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, that is, (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, especially an idol: - image, vain shew.




likeness
H1823
??????
demu^th
dem-ooth'
From H1819; resemblance; concretely model, shape; adverbially like: - fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.

 

[AvgJoe]

When it says in the Bible that we were made in the image of God, what is it talking about?

 

[Mark Quayle]

Hi Mark,

How wonderful to be made in the image of God. I believe that refers to our having - a will, a mind and emotions. I see that in the Godhead, in each person of the Godhead.

regards, Marilyn.

So, would you say dogs and other animals are made in the image of God? Do they not have that?

What about Angels? does the Bible say they are made in the image of God?

 

[SkyWriting]

When it says in the Bible that we were made in the image of God, what is it talking about?

It means we reflect the Spirit of God and animals do not.
We are willing to give our lives for the benefit of people who might do us harm.
Like Jesus, we have the capability to forgive our trespassers.
Animals do not. Man was not originally made in the Image of God, but God remade us into His image.
Like clay, we were reformed.

 

[Mark Quayle]

It means we reflect the Spirit of God and animals do not.
We are willing to give our lives for the benefit of people who might do us harm.
Like Jesus, we have the capability to forgive our trespassers.
Animals do not. Man was not originally made in the Image of God, but God remade us into His image.
Like clay, we were reformed.

So, are Angels also made in the image of God? They do all of the above, don't they?

 

[ewq1938]

Man was not originally made in the Image of God, but God remade us into His image.

That's not what the bible says. Man was indeed created in the image and likeness of God:

Gen 1:26 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.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God even says it twice for emphasis.

 

[SkyWriting]

So, are Angels also made in the image of God? They do all of the above, don't they?

I don't think they make any decisions for themselves, don't help other angels, cannot give their lives for others, or forgive others.

 

[SkyWriting]

That's not what the bible says. Man was indeed created in the image and likeness of God:

Gen 1:26 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.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. God even says it twice for emphasis.

The words used are defined as re-making, polishing, forming, changing and other process oriented meanings. Usually long, drawn out processes of change.

 

[Mark Quayle]

I don't think they make any decisions for themselves, don't help other angels, cannot give their lives for others, or forgive others.

Correct, we are not told one way or the other. It seems they are only able to obey at this point, thought they do want to look into why God should love humans so. Likewise, fallen angels seem only able to rebel at this point. I see no declaration of the ability to repent or (for the faithful angels to fall away as Lucifer did, and a third of the angels with him).

 

[Mark Quayle]

The words used are defined as re-making, polishing, forming, changing and other process oriented meanings. Usually long, drawn out processes of change.

Can this be taken to imply that we can assess God according to us? Is God like us, or are we like him, however poorly it may be so?

 

[SkyWriting]

Correct, we are not told one way or the other. It seems they are only able to obey at this point, thought they do want to look into why God should love humans so. Likewise, fallen angels seem only able to rebel at this point. I see no declaration of the ability to repent or (for the faithful angels to fall away as Lucifer did, and a third of the angels with him).

Given that they do what God tells them to do, they don't reflect humans.
So by the associative properties of math, they are not in God's image either.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Hi Mark,

How wonderful to be made in the image of God. I believe that refers to our having - a will, a mind and emotions. I see that in the Godhead, in each person of the Godhead.

regards, Marilyn.

I don't know if you avoided the question or not. Does being made in the image of God imply some degree of true autonomy on our part --true spontaneity, true causeless causation?

 

[Mark Quayle]

Given that they do what God tells them to do, they don't reflect humans.
So by the associative properties of math, they are not in God's image either.

On the other hand, we are not as Adam was originally, before he fell, when he was made in the image of God.

 

[ewq1938]

The words used are defined as re-making, polishing, forming, changing and other process oriented meanings. Usually long, drawn out processes of change.

What is written is a completed action, not a long drawn out process that only really was finished by Christ so many thousands of years later.

Man was created in the image of God in the 6th day. It was completed then and there and continues through procreation. This has nothing to do with morality or spirituality.

 

[SkyWriting]

Can this be taken to imply that we can assess God according to us? Is God like us, or are we like him, however poorly it may be so?

God is completely Spirit. Then at some point, God breathed the breath of life into us and as a result, we "smell" like Him. We now reflect God. But we are just dirt that has life breathed into us by God. God has no dirt.

 

[SkyWriting]

What is written is a completed action, not a long drawn out process that only really was finished by Christ so many thousands of years later.

Man was created in the image of God in the 6th day. It was completed then and there and continues through procreation. This has nothing to do with morality or spirituality.

I was going by the definitions of "made" in the greek...and it's all long drawn out processes. It just is.
I can't change what other conclusion you've held. But the creation passages are formed and molded type of stuff. "Re-made" in one usage. Just going by what I read and not what people preach.

 

[Mark Quayle]

God is completely Spirit. Then at some point, God breathed the breath of life into us and as a result, we "smell" like Him. We now reflect God. But we are just dirt that has life breathed into us by God. God has no dirt.

Agreed. Nor are we able to do 'new', in the way God only is able to do. We are 'creative', but we don't create.

 

[Mark Quayle]

I was going by the definitions of "made" in the greek...and it's all long drawn out processes. It just is.
I can't change what other conclusion you've held. But the creation passages are formed and molded type of stuff. "Re-made" in one usage.

But it was not written in Greek. What does the Hebrew say?