We live in a world, particularly in the west, where image is everything.  We go to extremes to project an image that people will be enamoured with, and sold on.  Our image seemingly takes us places or limits the heights that we may go.  But when the bible speaks of image, it is not something that we put out for our benefit.

     In Genesis, God says, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.  For centuries, theologians have tried to express exactly what that means.   At times it has been boiled down to us being unique because we have an intellect and a will, we can make decisions, or that we have been charge of the earth.  Today, this image is related to the Trinity and is about relationship.  For Augustine, According to Stanley Grenz, “the ultimate mark of the imago dei is the mind in proper relation to God.”  Thoughts of what being made in the image of God means vary and the statements above are both simplified and limited.  A lot has been written on the subject and today in particular there is a resurgence and expansion of the Trinitarian concepts of the imago dei.

     For us to see the true imago dei, we need to look to christ.  The idea of image or icon and Christ is expressed most clearly in the New Testament, in Paul’s writings.  2 Corinthians 4:4 says, In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  Colossians 1:15-16 says, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him.

      We are perhaps a mere reflection, whereas Christ is the exact representation, or image of God.  It does not stop there for us.  As new creations in Christ, we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ by the Holy spirit.  This is ongoing, and will continue until we are united with him.  Yes image is everything, but its God’s image, expressed in the person of Christ that is everything.

Quote:  Stanley Grenz, The Social God and the Relational Self: a Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei, pg. 156

Picture: Self Image is Everything, by ojbyrne