The phrase “Let Us make man in Our image” appears in Genesis 1:26 and has significant implications for understanding the nature of God and humanity. This verse raises key questions – Who is God speaking to when He says “Us”? And what does it mean for humans to be made in the image and likeness of God? This article will explore the meaning behind this intriguing verse in depth.
Who is God Speaking to When He Says “Let Us”?
When God says “Let Us make man in Our image,” the question arises – who is He speaking to? There are several main views:
1. God is speaking to Himself. As a triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – God may be communing within Himself as He plans to create humanity. This view sees the plurality within the one God hinted at in the text.
2. God is speaking to the angels. God may be announcing His plans to the angelic realm, consulting with the heavenly court as He prepares for a major act of creation.
3. God is speaking to the pre-incarnate Christ. As Jesus is eternally existent with the Father, God may be speaking to the Son who would one day take on human flesh Himself.
4. This is a “plural of majesty.” Referring to oneself in the plural form was common in ancient near east languages to express greatness.
5. This is a literal reference to other gods. While unlikely given Scripture’s clear teaching of one God, some interpret this as God speaking to a literal pantheon of other deities.
Most Christian theologians agree the first option is most likely, seeing this as God communing within Himself within His triune nature. God’s unity and diversity is mysteriously captured in the plurality of “Let Us.”
What Does it Mean for Humans to be Made in God’s Image?
The key phrase “in Our image” also raises questions about what it means for humans to be made in the likeness of their Creator. Here are key aspects of the “image of God” in humanity suggested by Genesis 1:26:
1. Humans are set apart from the rest of creation. As the pinnacle of God’s creation, humans bear God’s image in a unique way that separates them from animals or other parts of the natural world.
2. Humans have a spiritual dimension. Being made in God’s image distinguishes humans as not just physical but also spiritual beings capable of relating to and knowing their Creator.
3. Humans have personal, rational, moral, and relational capacities. Qualities like personhood, reason, morality, and the ability to relate to God and others seem to capture important aspects of God’s nature imparted to mankind.
4. Humans are representatives of God on earth. As image-bearers, humans are delegated a stewardship role on behalf of the Creator to manage, care for, and cultivate God’s world.
5. Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God. As the Bible progresses, Jesus is described as the perfect “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), the perfect representation of God in human flesh. Our image-bearing finds its primary meaning in Christ.
6. Humans have creative capacities. The ability to procreate, work, design, and innovate reflect that humans have been endowed with a measure of God’s creativity.
7. Humans have a unique willpower, personality and ability to self-reflect. These aspects allow for beings to have some degree of sovereignty that separates us from most other creatures. Man was endowed with emotional and relational complexity that reflects divine complexity.
8. Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God. As the Bible progresses, Jesus is described as the perfect “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), the perfect representation of God in human flesh. Our image-bearing finds its primary meaning in Christ.
9. Humans are set for relationship with God. While God has intimacy within Himself, being made in His image implies humans are designed for spiritual relationship and communion with their Creator, which sets humans apart from the rest of creation.
10. Humans are to reflect God’s character. As image-bearers, humans are meant to exhibit godly virtues like love, justice, mercy, grace, and holiness to the world around them.
11. Humanity mirrors aspects of God’s dominion. Having authority over creation seems to mirror that aspect of God’s own divine dominion and kingship over all things.
12. Humans have an immortal spirit. Many theologians see God breathing into mankind an immortal aspect at creation that reflects God’s eternal nature.
13. Gender and human sexuality are important. God creating humanity male and female may imply something about God’s nature expressed through gender and diverse expressions of human sexuality.
14. The image is based on relationship. Since God Himself exists in perfect relationship in the Trinity, mankind being in His image implies human nature is fundamentally relational, finding meaning in relationship with God and others.
15. Human dignity is rooted in the image of God. Since all humans are made in God’s image, all people have immeasurable worth regardless of gender, race, status or other differences.
So in summary, being made in “Our image” powerfully conveys humans are set apart from the rest of creation with unique spiritual, personal, functional, and representational capacities that reflect the very nature of the triune God. Mankind is designed for relationship with their Maker and commissioned to be His delegates on earth. All human life therefore has immeasurable dignity. Jesus Christ is the perfect Image Bearer who fully expresses God’s likeness and who calls believers to conform more and more to God’s image through the process of Christ’s salvation.
Historical Interpretations of Being Made in God’s Image
Throughout church history, theologians and commentators have proposed and debated various perspectives on what it means for humanity to be made in the “image” and “likeness” of God based on Genesis 1:26. Here is a survey of key voices and interpretations on the topic:
Early Church Fathers
Irenaeus (120-202 AD) – Humans created with God’s Spirit have moral freedom and responsibility. God’s “image” is not physical form but spiritual attributes.
Clement of Alexandria (150-215 AD) – The image is human intellect and ability to participate in divine wisdom.
Augustine (354-430 AD) – The imago dei is human reason, will, love, and abilities to relate to God. Seriously damaged but not lost in the Fall.
Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD) – Christ alone is the perfect uncorrupted image of God. In Christ, mankind recovers the image of God.
Medieval Theologians
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) – The image is man’s rational powers including intellect, will, spirituality. Also self-knowledge.
Reformers
John Calvin (1509-1564) – Image of God includes reason, personality, moral ethics. Defaced but not eradicated by sin.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) – God’s image is the original righteousness and moral attributes endowed by God.
Modern Era Theologians
Karl Barth -(1886-1968) – Christ as Image of God restores alienated humanity into proper relationship with God.
Emil Brunner (1889-1966) – Our capacity for personal relationships reflect God’s triune relational nature. Sin damaged the image.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) – Christ is the perfect imago dei. Union with Christ restores humanity fully to God’s image.
Millard Erickson – God’s communicable attributes, mainly spirituality, rationality, morality, and relational capacity reflect His image.
Wayne Grudem – The psychological, spiritual, and moral likeness shared between God and humanity define His image.
N.T. Wright – Image is God appointing humans as royal representatives on earth. Christ is the true Image Bearing King.
Differing Views on God’s Image:
While most agree the imago dei includes things like reason, moral capacity, relationships, there are some areas of diversity:
– Substantive View – The image is an actual ontological property within the essence of humans.
– Relational View – The image is not internal qualities but rather humans made for relationship with God.
– Functional View – The image is a role of representing God and exercising dominion on earth.
– Christological View – Christ as the Image of God is the true meaning. We image God by being united with Christ.
So in summary, throughout church history theologians have interpreted the image of God with some diversity, but often focusing on faculties of reason, morality, spirituality, relationships, dominion, and capacities shared between God and humanity. Christ is seen as the perfect Image Bearer repairing and restoring humanity to properly reflect God’s likeness.
Implications of Humans Bearing God’s Image
The fact Scripture clearly teaches mankind is made in God’s image has very significant implications:
1. All human life has dignity and worth. Racism and oppression contradicts the truth that all humans reflect God’s image.
2. Human uniqueness separates us from animals and the rest of the natural world. Human life has a sacred quality.
3. Equality grounded in being alike in God’s image transcends roles, gender, status and ethnic differences.
4. Work, creativity and cultural expressions should reflect God’s glory as image-bearers.
5. Jesus as the perfect Imago Dei reveals God’s nature. Being conformed and united to Christ should be our highest goal.
6. Human rights and justice are rooted in being made in God’s image. His image in us cannot be violated.
7. God assigned humans as His representatives on earth. Therefore, exercising responsible stewardship over creation is required.
8. The capacity for relationships reflects God’s triune relational nature. Meaning is found in community.
9. Self-worth comes from the identity given by God rather than the world’s standards.
10. Sin has deeply damaged the image of God though not erasing it. Salvation in Christ is required to fully reflect God’s likeness.
11. The image of God separates humanity from the rest of creation. However, as God’s delegates we must care for the natural world.
12. Technology must be guided by ethics that affirm the value of all human life as image-bearers. Science does not define humanity.
13. Life should be treated with great sanctity, dignity and care from conception to natural death since humans eternally reflect something of the divine.
14. A spiritual dimension is part of human nature. Attempts to reduce humans to only the physical or natural cannot fully account for God’s image in man.
15. God’s triune nature is reflected in human diversity and community. We find meaning in relationships that reflect God’s social nature.
The doctrine of the imago dei permeates Scripture’s teaching on human nature. Recognizing that we all reflect something of our infinite Creator should inspire us to treat ourselves and others with great care, dignity, sanctity, and responsibility.
Conclusion
The simple yet profound truth that mankind is made in God’s image has compelling implications for appreciating the sanctity of human life as well as God’s intent for humanity to exercise authority and care over the created world. It sets humanity apart with a divinely appointed purpose and destiny that includes living for God’s glory, exercising dominion over nature, living in appropriate relationship with our Creator and each other, and worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth. Understanding what it means to bear God’s image impacts how we treat others, guiding our ethical behavior and sense of human dignity and equality. The perfect image of God in Christ demonstrates that God’s ultimate intention is for humanity to be restored fully through Christ into the likeness of divine relationship, glory, love and moral excellence.
