Image of
God: a Personal Opinion
Often than not, we are confronted with
the question “how do you describe yourself”?
A typical answer would be, “What you see is what you get”! It is just another way of saying that one can
easily be described by simply observing the way the person live or acts. Analogically, I could use the same method to
describe as to what I believe the image of God is. I think the image of God in humanity basically
means that human beings are God’s reflections on earth. Just as we see ourselves in the mirror, so humanity
is the reflection of God. We can surmise that we derived our creativity
and intelligence from our creator. In
short, humanity has the attributes of its creator to some degree. Nonetheless, my thesis that man is the
“mirror reflection” of God can be examined thoroughly through a word study of
the Image of God as used in the Old Testament.
Image of
God: a Word Study
The
Hebrew word for image is םצֶלֶ (tselem) which occurred seventeen (17) times in fifteen (15)
verses in the Hebrew concordance of the King James Version.[1] The
Hebrew word “tselem” appeared in the following verses: Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis
5:3, Genesis 9:6, Numbers 33:52,, 1 Samuel 6:5, 1 Sam 6:11, 2 Kings 11:18, 2
Chronicles 23:17, Psalms 39:6, Psalms 73:20, Ezekiel 7:20, Ezekiel 16:17,
Ezekiel 23:14, and Amos 5:26.
Based on the above list of verses, we
can derive three (3) different denotations of the term “images” , namely, shadowing forth in stated in the following
verses: Genesis 1:26-27, 5:3, and 9:6; image as illusion or resemblance as
stated in Psalms 39:6 and 73:20; and image as referring to an idol as found in
the following: Numbers 33:52, 1 Samuel 6:5, 1 Sam 6:11, 2 Kings 11:18, 2
Chronicles 23:17, Ezekiel 7:20, Ezekiel 16:17, Ezekiel 23:14, and Amos 5:26.
Accordingly, the word “image” as
used in the old testament may mean different things depending on how the word was
used. It could mean shadowing forth
which denotes reflection, similar to a reflection in a mirror or water. The word could also mean an inanimate object
such as illusion or a mere phantom.
Lastly, it could refer to a tangible representative such as an idol. With these working definitions, we can now
address the subject of “image of God”
Image of God : a Word Study
With regard to the phrase “image of
God”, we can see that it only occurred in the following verses: Genesis 1:26-27
and 9:6. In Genesis 1:26-27, the image
of God is closely tied up with the concept of dominion. It should also be noted that though man was
described as created in God’s image, nonetheless, in verse 27, women was
included in the description as being created in the image of God. Since the term is related to the concept of
dominion, then this phrase may refer to the authority given to both man and
woman to God’s representative to subdue and care for creation. Moreover, Genesis 9:6 where the phrase also
occurred, the image of God therein could also refer to the dignity or
privileged given to man.
According to Gordon Wenham, the concept of “image of God”, as widely
believed, is either of Egyptian or Mesopotamian origin. For them, the “image of God” connotes kingly
function.[2] He further elucidates that it was a common to
view the king as God’s representative on earth.
However, the old testament democratized the term “image of God” by not
limiting such term to royalties/kings, by applied the same to whole humanity,
both male and female, as God’s representative.[3] On the other hand, Stephen Holmes noted that
term could also refer to humanities relational nature. Just as God has a relational life as Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, so are human beings to reflect the relational nature of
God. Moreover, he explained that the
fact that both man and woman were described to be an image of God shows that
God intends a relationship to occur in their context.[4]
Image of
God in Gen. 1:26-27
In my opinion, the term “image of God” in
these verses refers to human beings as God’s representative to be “rulers and
managers”[5], and to the
fact that they are relational beings.[6]
In
the first part of verse 26, it states that God created man after his own image
and likeness. It went on to say that God
gave them “dominion over the fish of
the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all
the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” With these, we can safely assume that the
image of God in verse 26 basically involves man’s obligation to manage creation
as God providentially cares for it.
With
regard to verse 27, we can see that the term “image of God” is not only limited
to man but also to woman. From this
observation, I can say that the term denotes relationship. I surmise that the fact a woman was created
only shows that God intends a communal life, i.e. having an interpersonal
relationship with each other.
Combining
both verses, I can conclude that both man and woman are God’s viceroy on earth
in caring for creation, and that they shall do so with the help and assistance
of one another.
Intimacy and Alienation : A Love-Hate
relationship
Between God, Humanity, and Creation
Pre-Fall
Scenario:
Intimacy/Love between God and Humanity
In
the opening chapter of Genesis, we can see that a self-sufficient and majestic
God created human beings. The fact that
God “formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life”[7]
figuratively shows the effort on the part of man to create and give life to His
creation. Further, God set a beautiful
and fertile garden and placed man therein to live and enjoy. Within the garden, God and man communes with
each other.
Intimacy/
Love Between Humanity and Created Order
The fact that man was created from
dust or ground shows man’s association with the ground. Moreover, God causes trees to grow in order
to provide food and sustenance to man.
He likewise created animals to man’s companion and helper. As God’s image bearer, it means that man has
the obligation to take care of his environment and everything that is within
his immediate control. In short, just as
the ground produces food for man, so is man to take care of his environment. Nonetheless, man lacks a suitable partner,
who would also care for him. The search
for a suitable partner was not an easy task.
In effect, the finding of suitable partner for him bears significance on
the part of man.
Intimacy/Love
Between Man and Woman
It was not easy to search and present
a suitable partner for man. In order to
provide a suitable partner for man, drastic measures were done. A rib, which is portion near to man’s heart,
was taken and from which woman was created.
The closing of the wound pictures the oneness between man and
woman. Also, the presentation of the
woman to man by God typifies the handing of a daughter to the man she will be
married to. Moreover, the fact that they
were naked and unashamed shows closeness and intimacy as well.
Post-Fall Scenario
Alienation and Hate Between God and Humanity
When both man and woman were duped
by the serpent into transgressing God’s command, the intimacy that they
experienced with God was disrupted. The
serpent caused them to doubt God’s goodness and truthfulness by tempting them
to eat and transgress God’s command. The
serpent casted doubt into their hearts by telling them that God was withholding
something good and precious from them.
He further misled them into believing that they could be like their
creator. When both of them transgressed,
both desired to take the place of their God, thereby declaring autonomy and
rebellion against God.
Alienation
and Hate between Man and Woman
After their transgression, shame
entered into their consciousness. The
intimacy that they enjoyed during their nakedness is now substituted with
shame. This implies that they started to
see things differently. Before they saw
the beauty of their nakedness, but now they despise it and hides their
nakedness by clothing. When they were confronted
by God, they refused to be accountable and shifted the blame to another.
Alienation
and Hate between Humanity and the Created order
Before, humanity could easily cope
up with this environment because of the harmony that they were enjoying. The ground easily produces food for
them. But now, they have to struggle for
survival due to the fact that the ground is now cursed. It is also ironic that the trees which he previously
takes care is now used by them to hide themselves due to their nakedness.
Conclusion: I can really say that sin has disrupted the
order and harmony that we are supposed to currently enjoy. As such, pains and sufferings have been the
norms of life. Nonetheless, God in his
grace and mercy provided redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. This redemption not only has a personal
effect, but also an effect on creation per se.
[1] http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6754&t=KJV
(last accessed 07/30/2013).
[2]
Gordon Wenham, Genesis, Word
Biblical Commentary (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1992), CD-Rom.
[3]
Ibid.
[4] Stephen
R. Holmes, Dictionary of Theological
Interpretation of the Bible, ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker Academic, 2005), p. 319.
[5]
David L. Turner, Evangelical
Dictionary of Biblical Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell, (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker Books, 1996), p. 366.
[6]
Ibid.
[7]
Genesis 2:7.
