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The Meaning of Being Created in God's Image Biblically

The concept of humanity being created in God's image is central to biblical anthropology, first appearing in Genesis 1:26-27. The Hebrew text uses the terms צֶלֶם (tselem), meaning "image," and דְמוּת (demuth), meaning "likeness" [4, 9]. Genesis 1:27 states, "God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them" [2]. This creation was a deliberate act by God, following a divine consultation: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" [4, 12].

This "image" does not refer to a physical resemblance, as God is spirit, but rather to a unique distinction that sets humanity apart from the rest of creation [12]. It signifies humanity's role as God's representative on earth, endowed with authority and dominion over the world [12]. While the exact nature of this image is debated, it is understood to involve aspects such as intellect, moral capacity, and the ability to relate to God [12].

The creation of humanity in God's image is attributed to the Godhead, including the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit [1, 3]. The Son, Jesus Christ, is Himself described as "the image of God" (Colossians 1:15) and the "exact likeness and perfect Representative" of God [5, 10]. All things were created "in Him" and "by Him" [11].

After the fall, humanity's image of God was marred, but the New Testament speaks of a "new creation" in Christ, where believers are renewed "after the image of him that created him" in righteousness and holiness [6, 7, 13]. This renewal is a continuous process, progressing "unto perfect knowledge" of God [13]. This new creation in Christ Jesus is for the purpose of doing good works, which God prepared in advance [8].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Creation — "In the beginning" God created, i.e., called into being, all things out of nothing. This creative act on the part of God was absolutely free, and for infinitely wise reasons. The cause of all things exists only in the will of God. The work of creation is attributed (1) to the Godhead (Gen. 1:1, 26); (2) to the Father (1 Cor. 8:6); (3) to the Son (John 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17); (4) to the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps. 104:30). The fact that he is the Creator distinguishes Jehovah as the true God (Isa. 37:16; 40:12, 13; 54:5; Ps. 96:5; Jer. 10:11, 12). Th”
  2. Genesis “God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. -- Genesis 1:27”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Man — Made for God -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. God's purpose in creation completed by making -- Ge 2:5,7. Cannot profit God -- Job 22:2; Ps 16:2. Unworthy of God's favour -- Job 7:17; Ps 8:4. Created By God. -- Ge 1:27; Isa 45:12. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 33:4. After consultation, by the Trinity. -- Ge 1:26. On the sixth day. -- Ge 1:31. Upon the earth. -- De 4:32; Job 20:4. From the dust. -- Ge 2:7; Job 33:6. In the image of God. -- Ge 1:26,27; 1Co 11:7. After the likeness of God. -- Ge 1:26; Jas 3:9. Male and female. -- Ge 1:27; 5:2. A l”
  4. MACULA Hebrew “Genesis 1:26 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: וַ יֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּ צַלְמֵ֖ נוּ כִּ דְמוּתֵ֑ נוּ וְ יִרְדּוּ֩ בִ דְגַ֨ת הַ יָּ֜ם וּ בְ ע֣וֹף הַ שָּׁמַ֗יִם וּ בַ בְּהֵמָה֙ וּ בְ כָל הָ אָ֔רֶץ וּ בְ כָל הָ רֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽ רֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל הָ אָֽרֶץ Word-by-word: וַ (wa) = "then" [2050b] C; יֹּ֣אמֶר (yyōʾmer) = "said" [0559] Vqw3ms; אֱלֹהִ֔ים (ʾĕlōhiym) = "God" [0430] Ncmpa; נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה (naʿăśeh) = "make" [6213] Vqi1cp; אָדָ֛ם (ʾāḏām) = "man" [0120] Ncmsa; בְּ (bə) = "in" [0871a] R; צַלְמֵ֖ = "image" [6754] Ncmsc; נוּ = "our" [5105a] Sp1cp; כִּ (ki) = "according to" [3509a”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  6. 2 Corinthians “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17”
  7. Ephesians “and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. -- Ephesians 4:24”
  8. Ephesians “Ephesians 2:10 (BSB) — For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”
  9. MACULA Hebrew “Genesis 5:1 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: זֶ֣ה סֵ֔פֶר תּוֹלְדֹ֖ת אָדָ֑ם בְּ י֗וֹם בְּרֹ֤א אֱלֹהִים֙ אָדָ֔ם בִּ דְמ֥וּת אֱלֹהִ֖ים עָשָׂ֥ה אֹתֽ וֹ Word-by-word: זֶ֣ה (zeh) = "this" [2088] Pdxms; סֵ֔פֶר (sēp̄er) = "book" [5612] Ncmsc; תּוֹלְדֹ֖ת (tôləḏōṯ) = "generations" [8435] Ncfpc; אָדָ֑ם (ʾāḏām) = "Adam" [0121] Np; בְּ (bə) = "on" [0871a] R; י֗וֹם (yôm) = "day" [3117] Ncmsc; בְּרֹ֤א (bərōʾ) = "created" [1254] Vqc; אֱלֹהִים֙ (ʾĕlōhîm) = "God" [0430] Ncmpa; אָדָ֔ם (ʾāḏām) = "man" [0120] Ncmsa; בִּ (bi) = "in" [0871a] R; דְמ֥וּת (ḏəmûṯ) = "likeness" [1823] Ncfsc; אֱלֹהִ֖ים (ʾĕlōhi”
  10. Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:15: They who have experienced in themselves "redemption" (Col 1:14), know Christ in the glorious character here described, as above the highest angels to whom the false teachers (Col 2:18) taught worship was to be paid. Paul describes Him: (1) in relation to God and creation (Col 1:15-17); (2) in relation to the Church (Col 1:18-20). As the former regards Him as the Creator (Col 1:15-16) and the Sustainer (Col 1:17) of the natural world; so the latter, as the source and stay of the new moral creation. image--exact likeness and perfect Representative.”
  11. Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:16: For--Greek, "Because." This gives the proof that He is not included in the things created, but is the "first-begotten" before "every creature" (Col 1:15), begotten as "the Son of God's love" (Col 1:13), antecedently to all other emanations: "for" all these other emanations came from Him, and whatever was created, was created by Him. by him--rather as Greek, "in Him": as the conditional element, pre-existent and all-including: the creation of all things BY Him is expressed afterwards, and is a different fact from the present one, though implied in”
  12. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 1:26: The last stage in the progress of creation being now reached--God said, Let us make man--words which show the peculiar importance of the work to be done, the formation of a creature, who was to be God's representative, clothed with authority and rule as visible head and monarch of the world. In our image, after our likeness--This was a peculiar distinction, the value attached to which appears in the words being twice mentioned. And in what did this image of God consist? Not in the erect form or features of man, not in his intellect, for the devil a”
  13. Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 3:10: the new man--(See on Eph 4:23). Here (neon) the Greek, means "the recently-put-on nature"; that lately received at regeneration (see on Eph 4:23-24). which is renewed--Greek, "which is being renewed" (anakainottmenou); namely, its development into a perfectly renewed nature is continually progressing to completion. in knowledge--rather as the Greek, "unto perfect knowledge" (see on Col 1:6; Col 1:9-10). Perfect knowledge of God excludes all sin (Joh 17:3). after the image of him that created him--namely, of God that created the new man (Eph 2”
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