Image of God

Mankind alone among the creatures is made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27 repeats the phrase three times in quick succession: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” This is the foundation of human dignity, the explanation of human authority over creation, and the basis of the moral obligations that govern how human beings treat one another.

The image of God is not lost entirely in the fall, but it is damaged. Genesis 9:6 still grounds the prohibition on murder in the image: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.” The image remains as the basis of human dignity even in a fallen world. But what was lost is the perfect reflection of God’s character: the capacity to represent him faithfully and rule creation in a way that honours him.

The New Testament speaks of the renewal of the image in Christ. Paul writes that believers are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of their Creator (Colossians 3:10). Christ himself is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), the perfect human being who perfectly represents the Father. The goal of redemption is conformity to the image of the Son (Romans 8:29), the restoration and surpassing of what Adam forfeited. The articles below trace this theme through several key passages.