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NASB | Genesis 1:26 ¶ Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:26 ¶ Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth." [Ps 104:30; Heb 1:2; 11:3] |
Bible Question: In Genesis 1, Adam is created in the image of God. What does this mean exactly? |
Bible Answer: Hello Evangeline, What follos are several post I've made on this subject. I ask you patience in reading them. Man, the image of God Note Gen 1:27 Lionstrong Mon 06/4/01, 6:44pm In Western culture one truth that needs emphasis is that man is the image of God. Western culture is under the influence of non-Christian world-views that say that there is no absolute truth. A scientific perspective that teaches that all reality can be reduced to scientific formulas, including man also sways our culture. In this scientific view there is nothing outside the mechanical laws and formulas, including man. Man is reduced to a bundle of psychological, sociological, and chemical conditionings. In contrast to this, the Bible teaches the wonderful truth that man is indeed outside of the mechanical laws and formulas. Man is not an intelligent animal, or is he some kind of biological computer. Man is neither animal nor machine. He is the image of his personal Creator God, the God of the Bible. As the image of God, man is capable of rational communication with his Maker, purposeful action, and wholehearted love. The issue is the value of man. If man is just a machine or an animal, then it’s ok for him to be treated that way. Abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, racism and tyranny are justified. The value of man also has implications for the Gospel. If the value of man is that of an animal or machine, then it makes no sense that Jesus should sacrifice Himself for such. But as the image of God himself, the salvation he has in Christ makes perfect sense! what is his image? Answer Gen 1:26 Lionstrong Mon 06/18/01, 5:15pm "...the first verse to be quoted, and for the purpose of showing that Scripture defines the image as knowledge and righteousness, is Colossians 3:10. The definition is derived by noting that the new man is such because God has renewed him after the image in which he was originally created. Ephesians 4:24 mentions righteousness, but Colossians has knowledge only. Its previous context speaks of "the old man with deeds." Then comes a contrast with "the new man." In what consists the renewal that makes the old man the new man? The verse says, He is renewed "to knowledge." He is renewed to knowledge according to the image of the Creator. That is to say, the image of God, in which image man was created, is knowledge. Of course this does not mean that Adam was omniscient: yet he had some knowledge, and this is not said of the animals. Since this knowledge comes by the act of breathing into Adam the spirit of life, the knowledge must be considered, not as the result of observation, since Adam had not yet observed anything at all, but as the apriori or the innate equipment for learning.... "The image must be reason because God is truth, and fellowship with him--a most important purpose in creation--requires thinking and understanding. Without reason man would doubtless glorify God as do the stars, stones and animals; but he could not enjoy him forever. Even if in God's providence animals survive death and adorn the heavenly realm, they cannot have what the Scripture calls eternal life because eternal life consists in knowing the only true God, and knowledge is an exercise of the mind or reason. Without reason there can be no morality or righteousness: These too require thought. Lacking these, animals are neither righteous nor sinful. Gordon Clark. "The Biblical Doctrine of Man." pages 14 and following. continued... |