There are many views of who we are as human beings. The following is atraditional Christian view of our identity and why, what and how we areintelligent.
IMAGE OFGOD A biblical description of the unique nature of human beings intheir relationship to the Creator God.“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen.1:26b). This passage contains a key to the understanding of humans and theirnature. Scholars through the ages have sought to unravel the mystery of thatstatement. The psalmist asked, “What is man?” (Ps. 8:4). Philosophers,theologians, psychologists, and anthropologists have constantly explored thattopic. All have realized that the human being “is fearfully and wonderfullymade” (Ps. 139:14).
A SPECIAL CREATION
According to the Scriptures, humans are not an evolutionary accident but aspecial creation. Human beings were purposefully produced by God to fulfill apreordained role in His world. They have peculiar qualities that somehow reflectthe nature of God Himself and set them apart and above all other created beings.
Image and Likeness
Some Bible students have tried to make a distinction in the meaning of“image” and “likeness.” Image has been considered the essential natureof humans as God’s special creation, and likeness as reflecting this image insuch qualities as goodness, grace, and love. They maintain that humankind in theFall retained the image but lost the likeness. The two words, however, seem toidentify the same divine act. The repetition represents the Hebrew literarystyle of parallelism used for emphasis. The Hebrew selem or image refers to ahewn or carved image (1 Sam. 6:5; 2 Kings 11:18) like a statue, which bears astrong physical resemblance to the person or thing it represents. The wordlikeness, demuth, means a facsimile. Compare 2 Kings 16:10, “fashion” or“pattern” (NASB), “sketch” (NIV, REB), “exact model” (TEV). Neitherof the words imply that persons are divine. They were endowed with some of thecharacteristics of God. There is a likeness but not a sameness.
Persons as Body-Soul
Many different views seek to explain the nature of the likeness. Genesis 2:7says, “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed intohis nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” In creationGod endowed persons with a spiritual aspect of life. This passage says that manbecame a soul, not that he had a soul. A person is both body and soul, or moreaccurately, body-soul. The Old Testament supports this holistic view of personswho are not segmented into parts known as body, soul, and spirit. Genesis 1:20uses the Hebrew expression, nephesh chayah, “living soul” for “movingcreature that has life,” that is the animals. Compare 1:24; 9:10, 16; Lev.11:10.
Early theologians were greatly influenced by Greek philosophy in theirinterpretation of the image of God. The Greeks separated between the materialand the spiritual. They saw an individual as a spirit being living in a physicalbody. This Greek dualism was the background out of which the early Christiantheologians drew their understanding. The church fathers believed that the imageof God resided in the soul or the spirit of each person.
Humankind as Persons Who are humans? The Bible portrays them as self-conscious,willful, innovative entities who, under God, preside over their environment. Inother words, they are persons. God made each male and female a person in thelikeness of His own personhood. Nothing else in all creation can be called aperson. Personhood encompasses individuals in their entirety, body and spirit,as rational, loving, responsible, moral creatures.
Reflections of Personhood A man or woman is a person, as God is a Person. Suchpersonal uniqueness is reflected in self-awareness and God-awareness. Humanindividuality is implied in personhood. God said “I am that I am” (Ex.3:14). Persons also are separate entities with individual personalities, sets ofvalues, inclinations, and responsibilities. Every human being is an original.
Humans created in God’s image share His rational nature.
People have the power to think, analyze, and reflect even upon abstract matters.They cannot be defined by or confined to material attributes. As God isspiritual (John 4:24), persons are spiritual. This spiritual kinship makespossible communication with God.
The Bible teaches that human beings have purpose.
They have an instinctive need to be something and to do something. They have aresponsible intuition and an inner call to duty. The human race has a uniquesense of “oughtness.” Humans are moral creatures. They can and do make moraljudgments (Gen. 2:16-17). Persons have a censoring conscience which they maydefy. They are choice makers; they can obey their highest instincts or followtheir most morbid urges. A human is the only creature who can say no to God.Humans are autonomous persons. God endowed them with the freedom to govern theirown lives.
This same autonomy makes possible fellowship with God.
No person could have a meaningful relationship with a robot. Real fellowship cantake place only between two authentic persons. God created “man” in His ownimage because He wanted a relationship with another sovereign person.
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FAQs
New Testament
For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is God's image and glory; but the woman is the glory of the man. But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.
What does God say is the relationship between humans and God's creation? ›
God gave humanity a role in God's creation. We are the caretakers of God's world. According to Psalm 8:3-9, God placed human- ity slightly lower than God's self in the created world.
What is the nature of the human being in relation to God? ›
Most theologians have said that the ways in which humans are like God (but not God) include our capacity for a right relationship with God, ability to reason, creativity, sociability, dominion over creation, and freedom or choice. Some of these are implied in the Genesis text (dominion in Gen.
How does the Bible describe the nature of God? ›
God has a Triune nature
According to the Bible, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are all called God. They are also referred to as Creator, Redeemer, and Counselor.
What is the image of God meaning? ›
The term has its roots in Genesis 1:27, wherein "God created man in his own image. . ." This scriptural passage does not mean that God is in human form, but rather, that humans are in the image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature.
What does the Bible say about us being made in the image of God? ›
Genesis 1:26-28 announces that human beings are made in the image of God: Then God said 'Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth.
What does it mean that God created humans in his image? ›
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. The implication is that all of humankind bears God's image, and are to be seen and treated with dignity from the very beginning of life to its end, regardless of what status they hold in society.
What does it mean to be human and what is my relationship with God? ›
A personal relationship with God is just like a relationship with anyone else in your life. It is fellowship, love, and trust between you and him. It means to know him and to be known by him. It's much more than just going to church or even reading our Bibles. We were created for relationship with God.
What did God say when he made human beings? ›
The Idols of God
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image.
What does it mean that human beings are made in God's image quizlet? ›
What does it mean that human beings are made in God's image? Our creator made us with fundamental, inherent dignity. That means that all humans have rights that they are born with and that for no reason can be taken away.
Humanity's place in the evolutionary tree of life is beyond question. But our ability to think, learn, communicate and control our environment makes humanity genuinely different from all other animals.
What is the biblical view of the human body? ›
Throughout scripture, caring for one's body is presented as both natural and expected. Jesus used love for one's self as a model for how we ought to love others. In Ephesians, Paul uses the model to discuss how husbands are to love their wives, and adds, “after all, no one ever hated his own body”.
What is the description of God? ›
God : the supreme or ultimate reality: such as. : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped (as in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism) as creator and ruler of the universe. Throughout the patristic and medieval periods, Christian theologians taught that God created the universe …
What is the biblical view of God? ›
God in Christianity is believed to be the eternal, supreme being who created and preserves all things. Christians believe in a monotheistic conception of God, which is both transcendent (wholly independent of, and removed from, the material universe) and immanent (involved in the material universe).
What is the idea that nature is God? ›
Pantheism is the view that the world is either identical to God, or an expression of God's nature. It comes from 'pan' meaning all, and 'theism,' which means belief in God.
Why is the image of God so important? ›
It means that God has set us apart and made us a very special creation in this world. As Christians we cannot forget the significance of this special honor that God has bestowed upon all humanity. Secondly, to be created in God's image means that God himself has determined how we ought to live.
What are the characteristics of the image of God? ›
The Bible portrays them as self-conscious, willful, innovative entities who, under God, preside over their environment. In other words, they are persons. God made each male and female a person in the likeness of His own personhood. Nothing else in all creation can be called a person.
What does the Bible say about human relationships? ›
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." The Good News: Love each other honestly and earnestly, even when you hate them most. Forgiveness is key, and then your love will shine brightest in the darkest moments in your relationship.
What does the Bible say about personal relationship with God? ›
The Bible says: "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). You can have an intimate relationship with God now, and be sure you will live with Him in heaven forever.
How does your relationship with God change you as a person? ›
When we have a relationship with God, we feel satisfied, content, and peaceful. This dramatically improves our relationships with other people because we stop needing anything from them. Whether they act favorably toward us or not, we're still okay deep down, because we get what we need from God.
o God makes himself known to us through his mighty deeds and his interaction with his people throughout time. He has revealed himself through firstly, creation of the first human beings and their descendants, ▪ He reveals himself through acts of history and interacting with us.
Why did God make us unique? ›
God has created each of us in a way that is unique and special. Each of us is designed to bring Him glory in a way that no one else can. He wants to accomplish His good works in each of us and through each of us.
What is the importance of knowing God as a human being? ›
Our knowledge of God aids our understanding of our own being, purpose, and salvation. From God flows all life and goodness, as a light shining in the darkness. Despite this, many Christians spend far more time considering things that are secondary to God's character than the character of God itself.
Why are human beings unique among all of God's creation quizlet? ›
Why are human beings unique among all of God's creation? Human beings are unique among God's creation because we are created in his image and are given a spiritual soul, a divine gift that is unique to us. By giving us a soul, God enables us to be in loving communion with him beyond limitations of time or space.
Why do humans like unique things? ›
Perhaps we desire to own rare objects and things in order to distinguish ourselves as being more unique, powerful, and 'worthy' than others. All societies in human time have prized wealth as one of the highest goods (although philosophers have always scorned wealth).
How does God want us to treat our bodies? ›
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Taking care of our bodies is not about vanity! That's what the media wants us to believe. We take care of our bodies because it is in His word. We are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.
What is the purpose of human beings according to the Bible? ›
Most Christians believe that humanity's purpose is to look after the world that God has created like caretakers (or stewards ), because creation belongs to God, not people. This is known as stewardship .
What are the three views on the image of God? ›
Believers, however, who are made in God's image and likeness, possess a three-fold nature: body, soul, and spirit.
How do we reflect the image of God? ›
Image bearers must also rely upon God's grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ during times when we go astray. We should also respond to God in worship. Praise him for the grandeur and goodness of his creation that reflects his handiwork. Praise God for making light to see, and night to rest.
How does God's image relate to human value? ›
Because God created humans in His image, each human life has intrinsic value. That we are made in God's image means human worth is not based on race, ethnicity, economic status, social standing, or physical attractiveness. Consequently, the image of God disallows prejudice of any kind.
When Jesus talked about God, to God, and as God, he was viewing God from the three perspectives from which every situation can be observed. We learned this in grade school as third person, second person, and first person.
What is the 3 nature of God? ›
Omnipotence - God is all-powerful - everything consistent with God's nature is possible. Omniscience - God is all-knowing, of past, present and future. Omnibenevolence - God is all-good/all-loving.
What are the 3 characteristics of God? ›
In Western (Christian) thought, God is traditionally described as a being that possesses at least three necessary properties: omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), and omnibenevolence (supremely good).
How can I reflect the image of God with my own family? ›
Praying together makes us God's family, a domestic church. Love deeply: The love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit knows no bounds. Our families are also called to love one another deeply.
How can you be an image of God's presence for others? ›
Here are 5 simple ways to show God's love to others:
- Show God's Love by Listening.
- Show God's Love with Generosity.
- Show God's Love by Encouraging.
- Show God's Love with Acts of Kindness.
- Show God's Love by Praying for Others.
- It's Possible to Show God's Love to Everyone.
