Humanity is created in the image or likeness of God. This image of God, given in creation, was damaged in the fall, but may be restored through Jesus Christ.
Humanity created in God's image
Genesis 1:26–27 Image and likeness are probably synonymous terms in Hebrew parallelism. No physical likeness between God and humanity is intended. See also Genesis 5:1–2
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Paul implies that the divine image is associated in the first place with men
Although Paul at points seems to imply that the image of God is especially associated with males, he does not imply that this involves male supremacy: 1 Corinthians 11:7, 1 Corinthians 11:11–12
Respect for human life in God's image
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.
With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
The divine image implies partnership with God in the stewardship of creation
Genesis 1:26 See also Psalm 8:3–8
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”
The divine image includes imitating God's love and justice
Matthew 5:48 See also Deuteronomy 10:17–19
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.[’’]
The image of God disfigured, though not totally destroyed, in the fall
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Fallen humanity in contention with creation
See also Genesis 3:17–19
Fallen humanity and the exploitation of nature
Deuteronomy 22:6–7; Isaiah 7:23–25
Jesus Christ the image of God
Philippians 2:6; Colossians 1:15 See also 2 Corinthians 4:4
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
He is the exact representation of God
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
He reveals God
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
Jesus Christ is the perfect human being
John 1:4 See also John 1:9, John 1:14; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:17
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
Restoration of the divine image through Jesus Christ
The divine image is renewed in all who are united with him by faith
Romans 8:29 See also 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:13–14, Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 3:9–10
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
The promise of complete restoration in the future
1 Corinthians 15:49; 1 John 3:2 See also 1 Corinthians 15:42, 1 Corinthians 15:45–48; Philippians 3:21
And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
The Christian life as a process of transformation
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.