Bible readers have debated the meaning of “the image of God” for the past two millennia. At a minimum this phrase means the following:
First, we are replicas of God, and therefore, we represent God on Earth. Ancient rulers made statues of themselves “in their image and likeness.” In a sense, God made a statue of himself and placed it in the garden. This means humans represent God in a unique way.
Second, we are God’s appointed rulers on Earth. This doesn’t mean that we should rule with an iron-fist and destroy creation because God “took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Gen 2:15). Note the references to ruling in Genesis 1:26-28:
26 Then God said, “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.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (NIV)
But does the image of God refer to specific human traits, such as intelligence or physical abilities? Defining God’s image with this level of specificity is hazardous. It could lead to viewing humans without these traits as not bearing God’s image. In the book Dignity and Destiny the author recounts the depressing history of this particular misinterpretation along with its devastating social impact.
Moreover, people who identify God’s image with specific human traits are missing a key point: we were made in God’s image, but Christ is God’s image. Paul says,
- “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Col 1:15)
- “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor 4:4)
We are not God’s image. Christ is the image of God. The image of God, then, is the blueprint or model in which we were created and that blueprint is Christ. Let me say it again: to be created in God’s image means to be created in Christ.
Since Christ is God’s image and he is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8), God’s image is unchanging and secure. It is not affected by human variation, deficiencies, or sin.
Additionally, Christ is our destiny so we are in the process of being conformed or transformed into his image. Thus, while we were made in God’s image, we turn away from that image when we sin. Consequently, we must be recreated or reshaped to conform to the original pattern. In this way, the blueprint plans are being realized. Paul writes,
- “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29)
- “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18)
To be created in God’s image, then, means to be created in Christ for the purpose of being like Christ forever and that process begins now.
Some of these insights come from Dignity and Destiny, which makes a vital contribution to this topic, but it is exhaustive and, at times, exhausting. The first chapter alone has 283 footnotes! I hope it can be transformed into a condensed version.
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.