In the “Image” of God

What does “image” really mean?

Image of Christ washing the deciples’ feet, from the public domain

What is the “image of God?” The “image of God” will always necessarily a theological point of discernment. For me, it will also always be an emotionally and intellectually fluid thing. As to that “image,” I read in college (at the Baptist college I was cajoled into and attended for a semester) Bible studies that in ancient Hebrew and ancient Greek, the words we translate as “image” did NOT mean likeness. Ancient kings sent out emissaries with the power to speak as with the king’s voice. Some even called those emissaries a word that meant more “voice” than representative. So, in the intended meanings, “image” likely meant something more akin to representing on earth God’s voice and presence.

I firmly believe God relates to each of us in the way which best speaks to our own needs. I further believe that when we let God speak to us, the agape love, of the God who is love, pours into our hearts and moves us more and more to be God’s image in this world. When I think of “the image of God,” I think of people who demonstrably live that agape love in God’s name.

For example, Jimmy Carter has lived a life that has been a testament of agape love and of a life lived in a person’s best effort to be Christ-like. For me, that kind of life is the image of God. The image of God is that God is love and we are meant to be…