Created in the Image and Likeness of God

Summary

The video script explores the concept of being created in the image and likeness of God, a central theme in Christianity. It discusses the difficulty of understanding this idea due to God's incomprehensible nature and the physical diversity among humans. Theologians have proposed three interpretations: humans' unique qualities like intellect and moral agency, our relational capacity as social beings, and our role as stewards of creation, reflecting God's image through our actions. The script also emphasizes Jesus as the perfect image of God, suggesting that humans were created in His image, and living like Christ is the ultimate expression of God's likeness.

Takeaways

• 😇 The concept of being created in the image of God is central to Christian moral teaching, emphasizing human dignity and responsibility towards creation.
• 🕊️ God in Abrahamic faiths is considered an unknowable mystery, not to be represented by physical images or appearances.
• 🧠 The 'image of God' is not about physical resemblance but refers to unique human qualities such as intellect, reason, language, and moral agency.
• 🤝 Some theologians view the image of God as indicative of our social nature and ability to be in union with God, reflecting the Trinitarian nature of God.
• 🌏 The Second Vatican Council highlights that humans are created for relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of brotherhood and unity among people.
• 👫 The concept also includes our role as stewards of the earth, exercising dominion with justice and care, akin to how God acts in creation.
• 🔄 The three explanations of the image of God—being, relationship, and stewardship—complement each other but do not fully capture the mystery on their own.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Each person's likeness to God is not solely dependent on their actions or abilities, suggesting a more holistic view of human nature.
• 🌟 Jesus is considered the perfect image of God, and humans are created in His image, implying that our true likeness to God is found in Christ-likeness.
• 🙏 Living in the likeness of Christ, through actions of justice, prayer, and service, allows humans to reflect God's image in the world.

Q & A

What does it mean to be created in the image and likeness of God according to the book of Genesis?

It refers to humans being created with a special quality that makes them distinct and similar to God, not in physical appearance, but in qualities such as intellect, reason, language, and moral agency.

Why is God considered an unknowable mystery in the Abrahamic faiths?

God is considered an unknowable mystery because God's nature cannot be fully contained or described by physical appearances or images, which is why depictions of God are often forbidden.

How do theologians interpret the concept of being created in the image of God?

Theologians have proposed three interpretations: 1) Humans have a special quality or nature that resembles God's, such as intellect and moral agency. 2) It is about the relationship humans have with God, being social beings capable of union with God. 3) It is about humans acting as God's stewards on Earth, taking care of creation and acting with justice.

What is the significance of the term 'image of God' appearing only five times in the Bible?

The limited occurrences of the term emphasize the mystery and depth of the concept, leaving room for theological interpretation and reflection over time.

How does the concept of being created in the image of God relate to human dignity and responsibility?

It serves as the foundation for the belief in the inalienable human dignity and the responsibility to care for creation, as humans are seen as having a unique relationship with God and the world.

What role do Saints Gregory of Nyssa and Thomas Aquinas play in the theological understanding of the 'image of God'?

They contributed to the understanding by suggesting that being created in the image of God refers to humans possessing special qualities like intellect and moral agency that are shared with God.

How does the Second Vatican Council's 'Gaudium et Spes' relate to the concept of being created in the image of God?

It posits that humans were created for a relationship with God, emphasizing the social nature of humans and the importance of treating one another with brotherhood.

What does it mean to say that humans can act as co-creators with God?

It means that humans, more than any other creature, have the ability to shape and care for creation with justice and charity, reflecting God's actions in the world.

How does the concept of Jesus being the 'image of the Living God' impact the understanding of humans being created in God's image?

It suggests that humans were created in the image of Christ, who is the perfect representation of human nature and the pathway of God, making Jesus the archetype of what it means to be created in God's image.

What is the significance of the Incarnation in relation to the concept of the image of God?

The Incarnation, where Jesus, who is God, took on human form, demonstrates that humans were created to be like Christ, and that Christ's life is the model for how humans should live out their likeness to God.

How can one make the image of God present in the world today?

By living in a way that reflects Christ's life, praying for the world, working for justice, and treating all with charity and respect, one can embody the image of God in the world.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Image and Likeness of God

This paragraph delves into the theological concept of humans being created in the 'image and likeness of God' as presented in the book of Genesis. It raises questions about the nature of this image, given the physical differences among humans and the unknowable nature of God. The paragraph explains that this image is not about physical resemblance but rather refers to certain qualities that humans uniquely possess, such as intellect, reason, language, and moral agency. These qualities allow humans to resemble God and make God present in the world. Theologians like Saints Gregory of Nyssa and Thomas Aquinas have contributed to this understanding, suggesting that these special qualities are what make humans distinct and akin to God.

05:03

🌟 Jesus as the Perfect Image of God

The second paragraph shifts the focus to Jesus Christ as the 'image of the Living God' according to the letters of Colossians. It discusses the idea that while humans were created in the image of God, Jesus, as God Himself, is the perfect image and likeness of God. This means that humans were actually created in Jesus' image, not the other way around. The paragraph suggests that living in the image and likeness of God involves living as Jesus did, embodying the perfection of human nature and the path of God. This includes actions such as announcing the kingdom, praying for the world, and working for justice, which are ways to make the image of God visibly present in our world.

Keywords

💡Image and Likeness of God

This concept refers to the belief that humans are created to resemble God in some way, but not physically. It is a central theme in the video, which discusses the different interpretations of what it means to be made in God's image—whether through intellect, relationship, or actions. The video explains that being created in God's image is a mystery, not tied to physical form, but to deeper spiritual qualities like reason, social nature, and moral responsibility.

💡Dominion over Creation

This term comes from the idea that humans are given authority and responsibility over the earth, as stated in the Bible. The video highlights that this dominion should be understood not as domination, but as stewardship. Humans, in acting as co-creators with God, are tasked with caring for and nurturing creation, making God's image present through justice and charity.

💡Inalienable Human Dignity

This concept refers to the intrinsic worth of every human being, based on their creation in the image of God. The video uses this term to argue that all moral teaching in Christianity, especially regarding human rights and justice, stems from this idea of dignity. It emphasizes that all humans, regardless of differences, share this God-given dignity.

💡Intellect and Moral Agency

These are qualities that theologians like Thomas Aquinas argue reflect God's image in humanity. According to the video, intellect refers to human ability to reason and think critically, while moral agency is the capacity to choose between good and evil. These qualities are seen as part of what makes humans unique and reflect God's nature in the world.

💡Relationship with God

This idea suggests that being created in God's image is not just about individual qualities, but about the human capacity for relationship, especially with God. The video mentions theologians like Carl Bart and Pope John Paul II, who argue that our likeness to God is rooted in our ability to form a relationship with God and with one another, reflecting God's social nature.

💡Trinitarian Nature of God

The video refers to the Christian belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to illustrate that humans, as social beings, reflect God's nature. The Trinitarian relationship serves as a model for human relationships, where love and unity are central. This further supports the idea that human beings are created for relationship, both with God and each other.

💡Stewardship

Stewardship refers to the responsibility humans have to care for and manage the earth as God's representatives. The video links stewardship with the idea of dominion, arguing that exercising our likeness to God involves acting justly and responsibly toward creation, rather than exploiting it.

💡Gaudium et Spes

This is a key document from the Second Vatican Council that the video references. It highlights the idea that all humans are created in the image of God and are meant to live as one family under God. It serves as a foundation for understanding human dignity, social responsibility, and the call to live in relationship with one another, grounded in God's love.

💡Sin and Creation

The video touches on the human capacity for both good and evil, explaining that humans, created in God's image, also have the power to 'create something out of nothing,' like God. However, through sin, humans can distort this power and create harm or destruction, which is in contrast to God's perfect creation.

💡Jesus as the Image of God

The video concludes by stating that Jesus Christ is the ultimate image and likeness of God. While humans are created in God's image, Jesus represents the perfect realization of this image. The video emphasizes that to understand what it truly means to be created in God's image, we must look to Jesus, whose life and actions model divine love, justice, and the perfection of human nature.

Highlights

Humans are created in the image and likeness of God, which is a foundational concept in Christian moral teaching.

The concept of being created in God's image is not about physical appearance, as God is an unknowable mystery.

The term 'image of God' appears only five times in the Bible, with no additional explanation provided outside Genesis 1:26.

Theologians suggest that being created in God's image refers to a special quality within human nature, such as intellect and moral agency.

Saints Gregory of Nyssa and Thomas Aquinas point to human qualities like reason and language as signs of being created in God's image.

Some theologians propose a dynamic understanding, linking the image of God to our social nature and ability to be in union with God.

Pope Saint John Paul II emphasized our Trinitarian complementarity and ability to know and love God as evidence of our shared image.

The Second Vatican Council's 'Gaudium et Spes' highlights our creation for the purpose of being in relationship with God.

A third explanation of the image of God is our role as stewards of creation, exercising dominion with justice and charity.

The concept of being created in God's image is multifaceted, involving our being, relationships, and actions.

Each explanation of the image of God offers a piece of the answer but leaves room for further understanding.

Jesus, as the image of the Living God, is the perfection of human nature and the pathway of God.

Living in Christ and emulating his actions, such as praying for the world and working for justice, makes the image of God present in us.

The video is produced by Breaking in the Habit Media, supported by patrons like Mary Ann McLean.

Transcripts

in the book of Genesis we find a

powerful yet puzzling statement humans

are created in the image and likeness of

God and given dominion over creation for

many Christians this is the basis for

all moral teaching serving as the

foundation for ethical principles like

the inalienable human dignity of all and

our responsibility to care for creation

but what exactly does it mean to be

created in the image and likeness of God

when frankly we don't know what God

looks like and we all look so different

this is Catholicism and focus

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when talking about the image of God it's

important to specify which God we're

talking about as much as we might like

to look in the mirror after going to the

gym and say that we look like a Greek

god and that's not exactly what we're

talking about for Christians Jews and

Muslims the followers of the Abrahamic

faiths God is an unknowable mystery that

cannot be contained in images or

described by physical appearance any

depiction fails to grasp fully the

completeness of God which is why images

were forbidden in each because of this

when we speak about being created in the

image and likeness of God we're not

talking about a physical image as in a

look-alike or photocopy it must mean

something else normally this is when we

could go to scripture for help

uncovering the meaning by reading and

comparing text unfortunately the words

image of God only appear five times in

reference to humans throughout the whole

Bible once in the original text of

Genesis 1:26

and four other times simply referencing

back to this text but adding nothing new

this doesn't mean that we have nothing

to say about the concept though over the

course of two thousand years Christian

theologians have used what we know from

the rest of God's revelation in

Scripture observations of the natural

world through reason and prayer in

community to come up with three ways of

answering the question

some like Saints Gregory of Nyssa and

Thomas Aquinas have posited that being

created in the image of God speaks to a

special quality contained within our

being in other words there's something

about our very nature that makes us

special what that is exactly is not

entirely agreed upon but theologians

will point to things like our intellect

ability to reason capacity for language

and moral agency to choose between good

and evil as distinct qualities that we

share with God when we exercise these

things these special qualities found

within us we resemble God's and make God

present other theologians like Carl Bart

and Pope Saint John Paul the second

suggested a more dynamic understanding

of the concept routing it not an

identifiable characteristic but in a

relationship we are created in the image

of God because we are social beings

capable of being in union with God

looking to the Trinitarian nature of God

proponents will focus on our

complementarity as male and female and

our ability to know and love God as

evidence of our shared image of God's

likeness the Second Vatican Council even

highlights this conception in its

pastoral Constitution on the church in

the modern world gaudium it's Pez

positing the very reason we were created

was being relationship with God God who

has fatherly concern for everyone has

willed that all should constitute one

family and treat one another in a spirit

of brotherhood for having been created

in the image of God who from one man has

created the whole human race and made

them live all over the face of the earth

all are created to one in the same goal

namely God himself beyond these two

there's a third explanation of what it

means to be created in the image and

likeness of God this one focusing on

what we do given dominion over the earth

and told to be fruitful and multiply

there's a sense that we exercise our

likeness of God when we act as God's

royal stewards taking care of all that

God has created and acting with justice

more than any other creature humans have

the ability to be co-creators with God

forming creation with great power and

when we consider sin even able to create

something out of nothing

just as God does to the extent that we

act as God does with charity and justice

towards creation we make God's image

present in us so what do we do with

these three options are we just supposed

to pick the one we like the best in a

sense I guess we could but what we'd end

up finding is that each explanation

offers a piece of the answer while also

leaving us in complete push their

logical end no answer is completely

without gaps for instance if our

intellect defines our likeness to God

does this mean that people with mental

deficiencies are less like God than

others if it's based merely on our

social nature does that mean that we

could renounce our likeness of God by

refusing to be in relationship and if

it's solely up to what we do does that

mean that this gift of our being is

dependent on how good or bad we are

naturally it would seem that all of

these answers offer us a window into the

mystery of God a way of growing deeper

and understanding but failing to capture

the whole meaning that we need to try to

hold all three together as one being

created in the image and likeness of God

has something to do with our very being

which allows us to enter into a special

relationship and to carry out God's work

on earth in each of these things taken

together we make God visibly present and

and in the world and while it would be a

great place to end right there I got to

it the whole zooming in and talking

slower thing didn't I

there's one major piece we have yet to

consider Jesus the letters of the

Colossians that Jesus is the image of

the Living God the firstborn of all

creation for in him were created all

things in heaven and on earth the

visible and the invisible while we were

created in the image and likeness of God

Jesus is the image and likeness of God

which means and this might hurt your

head a bit that even though Jesus

technically came to earth after the

first humans and we say that he came to

be like us it's quite the other way

around as God Himself Jesus existed

before us and came as the perfection of

human nature meaning that it's actually

us who were created in His image not the

other way around

whoa right whoa so what does it look

like to be created in the image and

likeness of God it looks like being

created in the image of Christ the

perfection of human nature and the

pathway of God when we live in him as he

does in us announcing the kingdom

praying for the world and working for

justice things that he did we truly make

the image of God present in us and in

our world thanks for watching this

episode of catholicism and focus a

ministry of breaking in the habit media

through the generosity of people like

Mary Ann McLean and all the patrons on

patreon we've been able to produce

multiple videos per week all year

giveaway over a hundred and fifty free

copies of my new book and travel to

events like la wreck thank you for all

that you do to make this possible

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