Genesis 1:26-27 shares how God created mankind -- in His own image and likeness. This brought forth the term “imago Dei,” the Latin term for the image of God. Although the term has been mentioned several times in different books -- 1 Corinthians 11:7; Colossians 3:10; and James 3:9 included – the verse in Genesis has the most impact as it proclaims how people are created.
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The terms ‘image’ and ‘likeness’ that are used in the verses should be taken as synonymous terms, according to theology experts, which both mean a representation of a thing or something similar to. Thus, theology experts like Dr. Hugh Ross and the team at Reasons to Believe emphasize that when God said he created male and female in His image and likeness, He did not mean that humans are identical with him. Simply, humans are similar (and dissimilar) to God.
What imago Dei entails
Knowing the meaning of the terms does not answer the question as to what imago Dei entails. Kenneth R. Sample dissects the concept into three points of view, as published on RTB’s website. These are:
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The representative view -- Humans represent God. As Genesis 1:26 states: “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” God equipped mankind with the natural ability to rule the world, being the highest form among all His creations.
Dr. Hugh Ross is the founder of Reasons to Believe, a ministry that integrates both science and faith in understanding the Scriptures and in discovering Christ.
The relational view -- Samples shares that the perspective means that humans are like God in terms of their unique relational characteristics.
The functional view -- “This viewpoint insists that being made in the image of God is more about what a person does than what a person is,” Samples shares. This means that it is human actions that reflect the image of God.
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| Hugh Ross Image Credit: Reasons.org |
For more information about Dr. Hugh Ross, visit the Reasons to Believe website.
