Created in the Image of God

Created in the Image of God

Based on Understanding the Faith, 8.4

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

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 in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

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 in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

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 in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

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 in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Open Ended

What do you think it means to be created in the "image of God?"

Some Theories on the Meaning of "Image of God"

• Resemblance

• Relationship

• Rule

Theory #1: Resemblance ("how we are")

• Intelligence

• Rationality

• Emotions

• Free Will

• Morality

• Ability to communicate

Theory #2: Relationship

• We are relational

• We relate to God and one another

• We can even relate to false gods ... idols

• 
  

• 
  

Theory #3: Rule ("what we do")

• "Connected to God's commanding humanity 'to rule' and 'have dominion' over the rest of creation"

Some Theories on the Meaning of "Image of God"

• Resemblance

• Relationship

• Rule

Multiple Choice

Which one of these is NOT one of the "image of God" theories?

• Relationship

• Rule

• Resistance

• Resemblance

Open Ended

What do people mean by "resemblance" in their theory on the image of God? [write 2-3 sentences]

Open Ended

What might it look like if people took the "image of God" more seriously? What kind of world do you think it would be?