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Boyd’s Bible Dictionary
:
(
likeness
). As in
Genesis 1:26-27
26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26‑27)
;
Colossians 1:15
15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
. Also Idol.
Concise Bible Dictionary
:
Besides
the
many
references to graven and molten images connected
with
idolatry
, which the
law
strictly forbade the Israelites to
make
,
the word
is
used
in several important connections:
for
instance,
God
said, “
Let
us make
man
in our image, after our
likeness
: and let them
have
dominion....so God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He
him
” (
Gen. 1:26-27
26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26‑27)
;
Gen. 5:1
1
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; (Genesis 5:1)
;
Gen. 9:6
6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6)
). The word translated “image” is
tselem
, which is the same that is used for idolatrous images, and for the
great
image in
Daniel
: (Dan. 2).
It
might
naturally
have been thought that man at his fall would have ceased to be in the image and likeness of God, but it is not so represented in
scripture
. On speaking of man as the
head
of the
woman
, it says he ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as “he is the image and
glory
of God” (
1 Cor. 11:7
7
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (1 Corinthians 11:7)
). Again, in
James 3:9,
9
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James 3:9)
we find “made after the
similitude
(or likeness,
ὁμοίωσις
) of God.” In
what
respects man is the image and likeness of God may not be fully grasped, but it is at least obvious that an image is a
representation
. The
Lord
when shown a
penny
asked “whose image” is
this
?
They
said,
Caesar
’s. It may not have been well executed, and so not have been a likeness. It may
also
have been very much battered, as
money
often
is,
yet
that would not have interfered with its being the image of Caesar: it represented him, and no one else. So man as the head of created beings in connection with the
earth
represents God: to him was given dominion over every living thing that moveth upon the earth and in
the
sea
and in the
air
. This was of
course
in subjection to God, and so man was in His image.
This is seen in perfection in
the
second
Man, who has in
resurrection
superseded
Adam
, who was in this sense a
figure
or
type
of
Christ
(
Rom. 5:14
14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14)
). Man may be a battered and soiled image of his
Creator
, but that does not touch the question of his having been made in the image of God.
Likeness goes further; but was
there
not in man a
certain
moral and mental likeness to God? He not
only
represents God on earth, but, as one has said, he thinks for others, refers to and delights in what God has wrought in
creation
, and in what is good, having his moral
place
among those who do. The likeness, alas, may be very much blurred; but the features are there: such as reflection, delight,
love
of goodness and beauty; none of which are found in a mere animal. With Christ
all
is of course
perfect
: as man He is “the image of God”; “the image of the invisible God” (
2 Cor. 4:4
4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
;
Col. 1:15
15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
).
From Anstey’s
Doctrinal Definitions
:
When
God
created
man
, He said,
“Let us make man in our
image
, after our
likeness
”
(
Gen. 1:26
26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)
).
“Image”
has to do with man being set in a place of visibly representing God in the
creation
(
1 Cor. 11:7
7
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (1 Corinthians 11:7)
).
“Likeness”
has to do with man being made morally like God, who is without
sin
(
Gen. 5:1
1
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; (Genesis 5:1)
;
James 3:9
9
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James 3:9)
).
When man fell, he ceased to be like God morally. Hence, in his fallen state, man lost his likeness to God. Thereafter he is not said to be
“in the likeness of God.”
In fact,
Adam
’s posterity is said to be
“in his own likeness”
(
Gen. 5:3
3
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: (Genesis 5:3)
), which implies that Adam passed on to his descendants his sin-
nature
, which he acquired in the fall (
Rom. 5:12
12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
;
Psa. 51:5
5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)
). However, even in his fallen state, man is said to be
“in the image of God”
(
Gen. 9:6
6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6)
). The fall did not absolve him of his responsibility to represent God. But sad to say, that image in man has been marred by sin. Man has not represented God properly in the creation.
When Christ came into
the world
,
Scripture
says that He was
“the image of God”
(
2 Cor. 4:4
4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
;
Col. 1:15
15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
;
Heb. 1:3
3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)
). He was not
“made”
in the image of God (as man was)—He was that by virtue of who He was. Thus, He represented God perfectly as the
Head
of creation. However, Scripture does
not
say that Christ was
“in
the likeness of God,”
as man was when God made man. The reason for this is that, when Christ walked here, He was not
like
God, He
was
God (
John 1:1
1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
). Scripture does say that in coming into Manhood, Christ was
“made in the likeness of men”
(
Phil. 2:7
7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2:7)
;
Rom. 8:3
3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)
). This does not mean that Christ took sinful
flesh
into union with Himself; He was not
like
man morally. This statement is referring to the
Lord
being in the
likeness of
men constitutionally—having a human
spirit
(
John 13:21
21
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (John 13:21)
), a human
soul
(
John 13:27
27
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. (John 13:27)
), and a human body (
Heb. 10:5
5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5)
). Though a real Man, He was
“sin apart”
(
Heb. 4:15
15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
)—that is, without a sin-nature.
The good news is that God in
grace
has created a
new
race
of men under Christ (
2 Cor. 5:17
17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
;
Eph. 2:10
10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
;
Rev. 3:14
14
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)
), wherein both likeness and image are regained. Christ’s
“many
brethren
”
(believers) in the new race can now exhibit the moral features of God and thus represent God on
earth
properly (
Rom. 8:29
29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
;
Heb. 2:11
11
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11)
). The
epistle to the
Ephesians
focuses on
“the likeness of God”
being displayed in this new race (
Eph. 4:24-32
24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27
Neither give place to the devil.
28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:24‑32)
), and the
epistle to the Colossians
focuses on the fact that the new race is
“renewed in
knowledge
after the image of Him that created him”
(
Col. 3:10
10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10)
). Thus, the new race under Christ has regained what the old race lost under Adam.
Call: 1-630-543-1441
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
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