The Bible uses the word for image in many ways, including denoting a statue, an idol or a copy ( Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words , 1985, "Statue" ). Barnes' Notes says, "'Image' is a word taken from sensible things, and denotes likeness in outward form, while the material may be different" (notes on Genesis 1:26
).

Likeness means "the original after which a thing is patterned" ( Vine's , "Likeness" ). "'Likeness' is a more general term [than image], indicating resemblance in any quality, external or internal" (ibid.).

The creation of all living creatures was introduced with the repeated phrase "according to its kind" (Genesis 1:21
, 24-25).

The introduction of man seems to break the pattern, as it does not say, "The earth will bring forth man according to his kind." However, the pattern isn't broken at all. Rather, in verse 26 God announced, "Let Us make man after Our image, according to Our likeness"—to resemble God.

Additionally, He endowed man with the ability to think, to create and to dominate the rest of creation. These are godlike qualities, superior to any other creature.

In its notes on Genesis 1:26
, Matthew Henry's Commentary says, "Man was not made in the likeness of any creature that went before him, but in the likeness of his Creator; yet still between God and man there is an infinite distance " (emphasis added). True, there is an infinite difference between God's original creation making humans in His form and shape, with godlike abilities, and His incredible plan to make us of His substance, along with His holy, righteous character. Then the children of God, forever thankful and submissive to the eternal God, will be completely in the image and likeness of our Father (1 John 3:1-2).

chukwudi44: Image in that sense means shape.While man has the image of God he still does not have the nature of God which is trinitarian

Jenwitemi: Man is also a trinity in his constitution; spirit, soul and physical flesh and blood. That is a true trinity of man right there.

chukwudi44: Image in that sense means shape.While man has the image of God he still does not have the nature of God which is trinitarian

okeyxyz: In the image & likeness of God. It means God is Human!
Think about it. Why all this attention on Man, of all his creations? Why are the angels or whatever spirit, whom we believe are supernatural not sufficient? Why use a Human as the messiah & Son of God? Why does "all creation await the manifestation of the sons of God"? God must be Human jorr!

Jenwitemi: And "HE" loves MEN, obviously. He has no use for women, apparently.

okeyxyz:

Either you are genuinely "dull" of mind smh..
Or you are simply taking levity, in which case i oblige you with some

Jenwitemi: I am genuinely dull of mind. So make me sharp of mind by telling me the use of the female by the bible god in the bible. He even had to be reminded before he gave lonely Adam a woman in the genesis tory. The guy hates the female gender. A real misogynist.

Genesis 1:27-28:
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

okeyxyz:

Well since you assert that you are genuinely "dull of mind", I won't argue with you there. So I'll take you slowly through the scriptures. First:



for a dull mind, the bolded should not be too hard a concept to "wrap" your mind around ehh??

Jenwitemi: Well, forgive my slow mind for not grasping it yet, but is that creation talking about the same one that happened in the garden of Eden or about the creation that occurred some place else? I ask this question because bible god only created Adam and had to be reminded to create Eve. Are there two creation stories in the bible.

And if the man and woman are created in the image of this god, that should mean that he, god, is a MAN, right? Treat my slow mind gently, o great smart one.

okeyxyz:
Err.., okay, So he had to be "reminded". And your point is..?

okeyxyz:

Well, He gave man the mandate to "rule & dominate" the earth & all creation(Genesis 1:28). So who's attribute is it to "rule & dominate" all of creation if not god's? Do you know any other being that creates/invents & "searches out secrets"(science/philosophy)? [/b]Why would god give such an attribute/"glory" to a specie that is not of [b]his own kind? Does a lion pass it's genes to a goat? No sir, a lion "begats" a lion, same way god passes his "genes/glory" to a god, Thus:
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."(Genesis 1:26)

So, by logic, God must be Man!

frosbel:

Man is a living Soul only because he has the spirit of God in him or should we say breath as it is rightly depicted in scriptrue.

Take away that spirit and man goes from a living soul to a dead body.

You are a Soul NOW and as we speak because you have the breath of God in you.


"the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

It does not say here that God breathed a soul and spirit into MAN, simply that he breathed into MAN and he became a Soul.

Jenwitemi: The SPIRIT is the part of man that is the same with the nature of the creator. The true self of man. The rest are just shadow self.The body and soul, that is..

MacDaddy01: Bunch of christian nutjobs on this thread.


If man was made in god's image, we would all be invisible.

man is an animal. We belong to the same hominid family with apes.


science and the bible do not agree.

frosbel:

Surely you are not this 'thick' , right ?

Jenwitemi:
Looks like you are the slow minded one today. So let me explain it slooowwwwly to you very briefly. If he were not reminded he wouldn't have created a female. Finito! Clear now? He had to be reminded that the man he created needs a female partner before he actually did it. According to the bible tale, of course.

MacDaddy01: Frosbel don run commot!

Soldier of god on the run!!!!!

MacDaddy01: Frosbel don run commot!

Soldier of god on the run!!!!!

seriallink:

Still persecuting Yahweh huh?

okeyxyz:

Hehehehehe... I left my answer hanging on purpose because i knew you were gonna jump, and jump you did, Now you have crashed!!! You see ya-self nah? So, can you kindly show me in the bible where "He was reminded"? as you so eloquently put it . Please Entertain me..

k2039:
2 Corinthians 3:18 New International Version (©1984)
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


The Image of God, can only be observed within "God's Qualities".
One must become the mirror, and reflect "God's Qualities"(One must reflect the qualities of the source(God), back to the source).
God created us in Reality to be an actual likeness of Himself, immortal, secure, omniscient, etc.But in this present world we are limited, mortal, insecure, powerless, ignorant, etc. In the fullness of time we will be exactly like the father.

Jenwitemi: And "HE" loves MEN, obviously. He has no use for women, apparently.