Are People Made in the Image of God?
Name: Mark Kuhn
Writing Style Used: MLA
Course and Section Number: THEO 202-DO2
Essay on Belief that People are made in the Image of God
God is incomprehensible, one that we cannot totally fathom (Pss. 139:6; Rom. 11:33-36; Pss. 145:3). But this in no way implies that we cannot know God truly. For in creating us in His image and giving us a Word, revelation of Himself, even though we cannot know God fully, we many know him truly (Deut. 29:29). (Brand, Draper, and England 659) This is why and discussion of the Christian doctrine of God must be firmly rooted and grounded in Scripture as God’s Word written (Pss. 19:7-14; 119; Prov. 1:7; 2 Tim. 3:14-17).
Since becoming a Christian three years ago, I have heard the term, made in the image of God many times. But now that I am attending college to become a pastor, how do I look at this verse and apply it to my profession? It's a nice thought, and probably one we've clung to when we need a reminder of our own value. But have you ever stopped to think about what it really means? "Made in the image of God" is a daring claim—and one that probably carries some responsibility with it. We all know we are not gods—though if we are honest, we know we often think we are the god of our own lives, even if we would never admit it. The truth is, you are not God. But you are godlike.
Our confusion about whether or not we are God arises from our godlikeness. It is described in the first chapter of the Bible. Genesis 1:26-27 reveals, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness' ... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." So, what does it mean to be created in God's image? The Hebrew root of the Latin phrase for image of God—imago Dei—means image, shadow, or likeness of God. You are a snapshot or facsimile of God. At the very least this means humans occupy a higher place in the created order because we alone are imprinted with godlike
Writing Style Used: MLA
Course and Section Number: THEO 202-DO2
Essay on Belief that People are made in the Image of God
God is incomprehensible, one that we cannot totally fathom (Pss. 139:6; Rom. 11:33-36; Pss. 145:3). But this in no way implies that we cannot know God truly. For in creating us in His image and giving us a Word, revelation of Himself, even though we cannot know God fully, we many know him truly (Deut. 29:29). (Brand, Draper, and England 659) This is why and discussion of the Christian doctrine of God must be firmly rooted and grounded in Scripture as God’s Word written (Pss. 19:7-14; 119; Prov. 1:7; 2 Tim. 3:14-17).
Since becoming a Christian three years ago, I have heard the term, made in the image of God many times. But now that I am attending college to become a pastor, how do I look at this verse and apply it to my profession? It's a nice thought, and probably one we've clung to when we need a reminder of our own value. But have you ever stopped to think about what it really means? "Made in the image of God" is a daring claim—and one that probably carries some responsibility with it. We all know we are not gods—though if we are honest, we know we often think we are the god of our own lives, even if we would never admit it. The truth is, you are not God. But you are godlike.
Our confusion about whether or not we are God arises from our godlikeness. It is described in the first chapter of the Bible. Genesis 1:26-27 reveals, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness' ... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." So, what does it mean to be created in God's image? The Hebrew root of the Latin phrase for image of God—imago Dei—means image, shadow, or likeness of God. You are a snapshot or facsimile of God. At the very least this means humans occupy a higher place in the created order because we alone are imprinted with godlike