What does it mean for humanity to be made imago Dei? Do the words “image” and “likeness” mean the same thing? In what ways do we bear the image of God? Support your statements.
What it mean for humanity to be made imago Dei
Sample Answer
To be made imago Dei means that humanity is created in the "image of God." This profound theological concept, rooted in the book of Genesis (Genesis 1:26-27), suggests that there is something unique and special about human beings in relation to their Creator. It signifies a unique connection and a particular status bestowed upon humanity.
The phrase "image" and "likeness" (from Genesis 1:26, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness") has been the subject of extensive theological discussion throughout history. While some early Christian thinkers, such as Irenaeus, distinguished between the two, suggesting "image" referred to our rational capacity and free will, while "likeness" referred to a moral perfection lost in the Fall, the dominant view in both Jewish and Christian theology today is that "image" and "likeness" are largely synonymous or at least closely related, emphasizing the singular concept of humanity's special creation.