Image of God _ The Bible Project

Summary

This video explores the concept of divine authority in ancient times, contrasting the self-proclaimed divine kings with the biblical view that all humans are made in God's image, thus bearing His authority. It discusses the human task of 'ruling' the earth through cultivation and creativity, and how this can lead to both good and evil outcomes. The narrative then shifts to Jesus as the ultimate example of human rule, serving others and embodying God's image. The video concludes with the vision of a renewed world where humans, restored in God's image, rule under His guidance.

Takeaways

• 👑 In ancient times, many kings claimed divine authority and made statues of themselves, but Israel's belief system was unique as they never made images of God.
• 🌐 God created humans in His image, entrusting them with the authority to rule and cultivate the earth, a task that was not limited to kings but given to all humans.
• 🌱 The concept of 'ruling' in the biblical sense involves the daily acts of work and creativity, including growing food, families, communities, and cities.
• 🔧 Humans have the potential to create both good and evil, as they have the choice to use their authority for the benefit of others or for self-advantage.
• 📜 The Bible depicts the human condition as one of struggle between achieving good and causing suffering due to selfish acts.
• ✝️ Jesus, as the 'new human' or 'image of God,' demonstrated a different way of ruling by serving others and seeking their best interests.
• 🛑 Jesus confronted and took on the consequences of human-created evil and death, offering a resolution through his life and resurrection.
• 🌟 The New Testament writers saw Jesus's resurrection as a new beginning for humanity, with the potential for divine transformation and healing.
• 💖 The Apostle Paul described the 'new humanity' as being filled with qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control, reflecting God's image.
• 🌍 The Bible concludes with a vision of a renewed world where God's servants, transformed by Jesus's life and power, rule alongside Him, guiding humanity into uncharted territories.

Q & A

What was unique about Israel's view of their kings compared to other ancient cultures?

Israel's view was unique because they did not view their kings as gods, nor were they supposed to make images of God. This was rooted in their belief that the creator God could not be reduced to any one thing in creation.

Why did ancient kings often make statues of themselves?

Ancient kings made statues of themselves, called 'selem' in Hebrew, to assert their authority and claim to be the image of God, which allowed them to define good and evil and command obedience from their subjects.

How does the Bible define the concept of humans being made in the image of God?

The Bible defines humans as being made in the image of God by giving them the authority to rule over the earth. This includes the tasks of cultivating the earth, growing food, creating families, and building communities.

What is the biblical perspective on the role of humans in creation?

The biblical perspective is that humans are called to rule and cultivate the earth by harnessing its potential and creating something more and new, which is seen as humanity's divine and sacred task.

How does the Bible address the problem of humans causing suffering and injustice?

The Bible addresses this by showing that humans have a choice in how they rule. They can either use their authority for the benefit of others, which aligns with God's definition of good, or they can use it for self-advantage, leading to evil and suffering.

What does the Bible say about God's response to human's misuse of authority?

The Bible claims that God bound Himself to humanity through Jesus, who showed a new way to truly rule as a human by serving and seeking the best for others, even to the point of confronting and bearing the consequences of human-created evil.

How did Jesus' life and death impact the concept of ruling in the Bible?

Jesus' life and death on the cross confronted the consequences of human evil and death. His resurrection opened a new future for humanity, showing a new way to be human and to rule with love, service, and self-sacrifice.

What does the Apostle Paul say characterizes the new humanity in Christ?

The Apostle Paul describes the new humanity in Christ as being filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, integrity, gentleness, and self-control, which are the qualities that restore God's image in people.

How does the Bible envision the future of the world in relation to God and humanity?

The Bible envisions a renewed world where God is on His throne and His servants, who are humanity, rule over this new world. They take it into uncharted territory with Jesus as their healer and guide.

What is the purpose of The Bible Project, and how can people support it?

The purpose of The Bible Project is to present the Bible as a unified narrative that leads to Jesus and offers wisdom for the modern world. People can support it by making one-time gifts or becoming monthly supporters, which helps make the videos free and available to anyone.

Outlines

00:00

👑 Authority and Image of God in Ancient Times

This paragraph discusses the concept of authority in ancient times, particularly in the context of the Bible. Kings often claimed divinity and made statues of themselves, called 'selem' in Hebrew, which were seen as idols or images. However, Israel's belief system was distinct as they did not view their kings as gods and were prohibited from making images of God. This belief stemmed from the idea that God, as the creator, cannot be reduced to any created thing. Instead, God made humans in His image, granting them authority to rule and cultivate the earth. The task of ruling, which was typically reserved for kings, was thus democratized in the biblical narrative, making every human responsible for the stewardship of creation. The paragraph also touches on the human propensity for both good and evil, and how Jesus, as the 'new human' or 'image of God,' demonstrated a new way of ruling through service and love, ultimately transforming the human condition.

05:01

🌟 The Bible Project's Vision and Outreach

The second paragraph shifts focus to The Bible Project, a channel dedicated to exploring the Bible's narrative and its relevance to modern life. The creators produce various video series that delve into the design and messages of biblical books or trace themes throughout the Bible. They aim to make these resources freely accessible to everyone, regardless of location. The paragraph concludes with an appeal for support, highlighting that the project's continuation and the provision of free materials are dependent on the contributions of viewers. Supporters can contribute one-time gifts or become monthly supporters, and in return, they gain access to high-resolution videos, study guides, and posters.

Keywords

💡Authority

In the context of the video, 'authority' refers to the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. It is initially associated with ancient kings who claimed divine status and used their authority to dictate actions and define morality. The video contrasts this with God's delegation of authority to all humans, emphasizing a shift from a centralized, elite power structure to a more democratic and inclusive one where every individual has the potential to 'rule' or influence their world.

💡Image of God

The term 'image of God' is used in the video to describe humans as created in the likeness of God, thereby possessing inherent dignity and authority. This concept is central to the video's theme, as it underpins the idea that all humans have the capacity to rule and are not just subjects to divine or royal authority. The video also discusses how Jesus, as the 'new human' or 'image of God,' exemplifies a different mode of ruling through service and love.

💡Idol

An 'idol' in the video script refers to physical representations of deities, often created by kings to assert their divinity. The term is used to contrast the ancient practice of king-worship with the Israelite belief in a non-representable God. Idols symbolize the human tendency to create tangible objects of worship, whereas the video argues for a more abstract and personal relationship with the divine.

💡Creation

In the video, 'creation' is discussed in two contexts: the act of God creating the universe and everything in it, and the human role in continuing the creative process. God's creation is depicted as an act of establishing order and beauty, while human creation is about cultivating the earth, growing food, and building communities. This concept ties into the video's exploration of humanity's purpose and potential.

💡Rule

The concept of 'rule' in the video is not about political power but about the responsibility and capacity of humans to shape and influence their world. It is rooted in the idea that all humans, as 'images of God,' have been entrusted with the task of stewarding the earth and its resources. The video suggests that ruling involves daily acts of work, creativity, and community-building, aiming for the common good rather than self-interest.

💡Good and Evil

The video discusses 'good and evil' as moral categories that were initially defined by God but later claimed by humans. It reflects on the human condition, where individuals have the freedom to choose whether to act for the benefit of others (good) or for self-advantage (evil). This choice is central to the narrative of human history and the video's exploration of how Jesus offers a new perspective on what it means to rule justly and compassionately.

💡Human Condition

The 'human condition' in the video is a reflection on the inherent complexities and contradictions of human nature. It acknowledges the capacity for both great achievements and significant failures, highlighting how humans can create beauty and suffering. The video uses this concept to explore the need for transformation and the role of Jesus in providing a new model for humanity.

💡Jesus

Jesus is presented in the video as the embodiment of God's ideal for humanity. His life and teachings, particularly his acts of service and love, are contrasted with traditional models of power and rule. The video suggests that Jesus's life and resurrection offer a new way for humans to live and rule, characterized by selflessness and a commitment to the well-being of others.

💡Resurrection

The 'resurrection' of Jesus in the video is a pivotal event that signifies a new beginning for humanity. It symbolizes the overcoming of death and the promise of a transformed future. The video connects the resurrection to the broader biblical narrative, suggesting that it opens up possibilities for the restoration of God's image in humans and the renewal of creation.

💡New Humanity

The concept of 'new humanity' in the video refers to the transformation of individuals through the influence of Jesus's life and teachings. It is about becoming a people characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and other virtues. The video suggests that this transformation is part of God's plan to restore and renew the image of God in humans, leading to a more just and compassionate world.

💡Transformation

Transformation in the video is the process by which humans are changed and renewed, moving away from self-centeredness and towards a life of service and love. It is linked to the concept of the 'new humanity' and is seen as a central aspect of the Christian faith. The video suggests that this transformation is made possible through the life and power of Jesus, enabling individuals to participate more fully in God's creative and redemptive purposes.

Highlights

Ancient kings often claimed divine authority and made statues of themselves, called 'selem' in Hebrew.

Israelite belief held that the creator God could not be reduced to any created thing, setting them apart from surrounding cultures.

God's unique interaction with humans is exemplified by not allowing images of Himself to be made.

Genesis introduces God as the ultimate authority who speaks and creation obeys.

Humans are created in God's image, given the task to 'subdue the earth and rule it', a task not limited to kings.

The concept of 'ruling' in the Bible is redefined as the day-to-day acts of work and creativity.

The human project involves growing food, families, communities, and cities, expanding humanity's reach.

The Bible presents a challenge to humans: to use their authority for the benefit of others or for self-advantage.

The human condition, as depicted in Genesis, includes the capacity for both good and evil.

Jesus is presented as the resolution to humanity's struggle with ruling, by serving and seeking the best for others.

Jesus's life and resurrection offer a new way to be human, embodying the true image of God.

The New Testament writers view Jesus as the 'new human', offering a path to restore the divine image in humanity.

Apostle Paul describes the characteristics of the new humanity: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, integrity, gentleness, and self-control.

The Bible's narrative concludes with a vision of a renewed world where God's servants rule under His guidance.

The Bible Project produces video series to explore the design and message of the Bible's books and themes.

Support from viewers enables The Bible Project to create free and accessible educational content.

The Bible Project aims to make the Bible's wisdom relevant to the modern world through various video series.

Transcripts

so if you lived in ancient bible times

odds are you lived under the authority

of a king and many of these kings

claimed that they were

gods and they would even call themselves

the image of god

meaning they had authority to tell

people what to do order things to be

made

yeah they got to define good and evil

and these kings would often make statues

of themselves which in hebrew were

called

selem often translated as idol or image

but for israel they didn't view their

kings as

the god in fact they were never supposed

to even make

images of god it's exactly right and

that was really unique for that time and

culture

this is rooted first of all in israel's

belief that you can't reduce the creator

god down to any one thing

in creation but there's another reason

people aren't to make images of god

because god has already made images

of himself when did he do that well

let's go to page one

of the bible and the first person we

meet there is god

he's the one with authority over all

creation he speaks and creation obeys

and he defines what is good and not good

in other words

he alone is king but then surprisingly

as the pinnacle of all of god's creative

work he makes

humans and he calls all of them the

image

of god so he gives all humans the

authority to rule

exactly that's what he goes on to say he

tells the humans to subdue the earth and

to rule

it and so this task that once belonged

only to elite

kings is here in the bible the task of

every human being this was a

revolutionary statement in its day

because all humans are being called to

rule and to participate in the human

project so what does this mean i mean

how are we all supposed to rule

so the picture we get in genesis is

gardening gardening

yes gardening so they rule the earth by

cultivating it by harnessing all of the

earth's raw potential and then making

something more and new

out of it so growing food for each other

yes

but that also includes growing families

then which

become neighborhoods and then they

create communities where people are

going to work and take care of each

other and

build businesses and cities that will

expand to new places and so on

so ruling is really the day-to-day acts

of

our work and creativity yes we take the

world somewhere this is humanity's

divine and sacred

task yeah and this all sounds really

nice

and humans have designed some pretty

great things

but just as often we create things that

cause a lot of suffering

and a lot of injustice so maybe we

shouldn't actually be ruling

yeah so the bible addresses this in

genesis what happens is that god gives

humans a choice about how

they're going to rule so are they going

to use their authority for the benefit

of others which is god's definition

of good or are they going to turn away

and define good and evil for themselves

and use their authority for

self-advantage and in the story they

choose to define good and evil on their

own terms

and so this is the bible's depiction of

the human condition

so sometimes we pull off amazingly good

stuff but just as often despite our best

intentions we act selfishly

and we create evil in the world and so

we're stuck

as mediocre rulers making a mess of

things

but that's not the end of the story so

the bible goes on and it makes this

claim

that all of this was resolved when god

bound himself

to humanity through jesus and he

showed us what it looks like to truly

rule as a human

so what does it look like well jesus

ruled by serving

and by seeking the best for others by

putting himself underneath them

and loving not just his friends but also

his enemies

and that's not a typical way to rule and

not only that

jesus confronted the consequences of all

the evil and the death that we

have created by our messed up ways of

ruling

and he takes it i mean he lets it kill

him

and so when the new testament writers

looked back to jesus's resurrection they

see a whole new future opening up for

all humanity

jesus is a new way to be human yeah

that's why they called jesus

the image of god or the new human

and not only that they also believe that

jesus's divine life

and power is now available to heal and

to transform us to become our life

and power and this sounds really nice

but what does it really look like

so practically the apostle paul said it

looks like people being

filled by jesus's own presence and

spirit

filled with love and joy and peace and

patience and kindness and

goodness and integrity and gentleness

and self-control

he says this is the new humanity that

god wants to create in

us so that we become people in whom

god's image is being restored people who

will move the human project

forward and that's actually how the

story of the bible ends it's a renewed

world where god is on his throne and his

servants are all around him but they're

the ones

ruling over this new world taking it

into new

uncharted territory with jesus as their

healer

and their guide

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