Imago Dei Research Paper Theo 310

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Dec 6, 2023

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Imago Dei Amy A. Taylor THEO 310- Theology of Humanity August 13, 2023

1 CONTENTS Introduction…………………………………………………………….………………………2 Overview of the Doctrine of the Imago Dei……………………………………………….….3 Biblical Defense of Imago Dei…………………………………………...….….……… ..... …..4 Old Testament Defense………………………………………….…………..…………..4 New Testament Defense…………………………………………...……………………5 Major Views on Imago Dei…………………………………..…….…………………………..6 Representative View…………………………………………………………………….6 Functional View…………………………………………………………………………6 Relational View……………………………………………………...………………….7 Substantive/Ontological View…………………………………………………………..8 Defense of Substantive/Ontological View………………………...…………………………..8 Two Modern Perspectives on Human Nature…………………………………………….….9 Naturalism………………………………………………………………………………10 Postmodernism………………………………………………………………………….11 Practical Implications for Ethical Implications…………………..…………..………….…..12 Abortion…………………………………………………………….……………..…….12 The Role of the church in Racism………………………………………………………13 Conclusion………………………………………………………...……………………………14 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………16 ii

2 Introduction Human life was divinely created in the image of God, a concept known as “ imago Dei ”. This doctrine asserts that humans, originally fashioned in God’s likeness, fell into corruption due to sin, but can be restored to God’s image through Jesus Christ. The Biblical verse Genesis 1:27 (ESV) explicitly declares: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This unique aspect of creation sets humans apart, making them the sole beings in God’s image. Author, Robert Tracy McKensie says this about being created in the image of God: “We occupy a unique place in God’s created order- ‘a little lower than the angels’ according to the psalmist. We bear the divine imprint in the sense that we possess, among other things, an eternal soul, the faculty of reason, and a “capacity for moral goodness.” We’re not just animals with a more developed cerebral cortex. There’s a precious dignity inherent in our status as God’s image bearers.” 1 Striving for a greater understanding of the concept of imago Dei , this endeavor delves into the prominent viewpoints concerning this doctrine, including the substantial/ontological perspective, the relational standpoint, the functional interpretation, and the representative views. Throughout this examination, the core conviction perseveres that every individual, regardless of gender, race, ethnic background, or societal position, inherently holds value due to their creation in the divine image. While Christian theology firmly grounds itself in the Biblical truth of image Dei , it is essential to acknowledge that there are two modern and secular perspectives on the origins of human nature-Naturalism and Postmodernism. How we perceive our human origins carries significant implications for how we view and value others, how we relate to and treat them. However, these secular perspectives lack a meaningful basis for human dignity, rights, equality, and solidarity. By upholding the 1 McKenzie, Robert Tracy. We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy . Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2021. Accessed July 31, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, 67.

3 belief in human creation through Christian theism and imago Dei , we can effectively defend the important implications of ethical considerations surrounding such issues as abortion and ministering to others of different race and ethnic backgrounds within the church. Embracing the stance that each person is created and fashioned in imago Dei , we empower ourselves to acknowledge the intrinsic worth of every individual, thereby nurturing a fairer and more empathetic society. Overview of the Doctrine of Image Dei Imago Dei is a concept that can be found in Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1-2 and 9:6. All three of these passages in the Old Testament show us that man was created in the image of God, and the phrase in the “image of God” is only applied to humans. Therefore, humanity can be distinguished from the rest of creation. Being created in the image of God “is the very thing that makes humanity different from every other created animal. It is what defines the human being’s unique identity.” 2 The image of God is unique only for humans. Genesis 2:7 is explicit “And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The verse describes that God was intentional on the creation of man. He simply did not state “Let there be” but breathed Himself into man creating him in His image. Likewise, he did the same for woman as woman was born from the God- breathed rib of man. Man as a whole person was created both physically and spiritually in the sense like his Maker; so, “we need to view the imago Dei as a declaration that God intended to 2 John MacArthur (2001). The Battle for the Beginning: The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 203.

4 create human persons to be the physical means through which he would manifest his own divine presence in the world.” 3 Biblical Defense on Imago Dei Old Testament Defense The term "image" found in Genesis 1:26-27 is derived from the Hebrew word " tselem ." This term originates from a root word associated with carving, suggesting that humanity is essentially sculpted in the likeness of God. Given our lack of knowledge about the physical form of God, we can infer that being fashioned in the image ( tselem ) of God pertains more precisely to His spiritual nature. Henry Morris writes about the physical attributes of God describing them as: “We can only say, that, although God Himself may have no physical body, He designed and formed man’s body to enable it to function physically in ways in which He Himself could function even without a body. God can see (Genesis 16:13), hear (Psalm 94:9), smell (Genesis 8:21), touch (Genesis 32:32) and speak (2 Peter 1:18). Whether or not He has actual physical eyes, ears, nose, hands and mouth…. there is something about the human body, therefore which is uniquely appropriate to God’s manifestation of Himself, and (since God knows all His works from the beginning of the world-Acts 15:18), He must have designed man’s body with this in mind.” 4 Man was created in imago Dei to be holy, to obtain wisdom, to have a spirit of goodness, truth, love, grace, mercy, longsuffering, and righteousness. Humanity was created to glorify Him 3 Marc Cortez, Resourcing Theological Anthropology: A Constructive Account of Humanity in the Light of Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017), 109. 4 H.M. Morris, (1976). The Genesis Record . Master Books, 74-75.

5 and to enjoy Him forever. While animals were created with a natural posture to turn their gaze downward towards the earth, humans were created in a posture to look upward, towards the heavens, where they can worship and contemplate the glory of God that is displayed for everyone. New Testament Defense The New Testament word for image is eikōn . “ Eikōn appears in twenty verses throughout the New Testament. In twelve of these verses, it denotes physical representations. In one verse it refers to the law as not being the true image of things to come (Hebrews 10:1) Twice it is used to denote Christ as the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4, Colossians 1:15) and five times it relates man to the image of Christ or God (Romans 8:29, 1 Corinthians 11:7, 15:49, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 3:10).” 5 In the New Testament, the image of God is Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:15 emphatically states “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all Creation.” Jesus is the brilliance of God’s glory and the representation of God’s nature. “ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). Reference to imago in the New Testament are explicitly Christological. 6 Since Jesus is the imago Dei in the New Testament, Jesus should be looked at as to what it means to “be human.” In the incarnation, imago Dei is shown in all its glory and fullness. In Christ, “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) The New Testament emphasizes that through Jesus Christ the full image of God is visible to the whole world. 5 The Image of God by John Piper . (n.d.). Scribd. Retrieved August 10, 2023, https://www.scribd.com/document/92651734/The-Image-of-God-by-John-Piper 6 Marc Cortez (2018). Resourcing Theological Anthropology: A constructive account of humanity in the light of Christ . Zondervan, 99.

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