Made in Gods Image?

Clizby WampusCat

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Even if we focus on quantitative "possessions" rather than capacities I don't see the problem:
  • Humans are somewhat good - God is perfectly/infinitely/asymptotically good
  • Humans are somewhat just - God is perfectly/infinitely/asymptotically just
  • Humans are somewhat knowledgeable - God is perfectly/infinitely/asymptotically knowledgeable
  • Humans are somewhat powerful - God is perfectly/infinitely/asymptotically powerful
  • Humans are somewhat loving - God is perfectly/infinitely/asymptotically loving
  • Humans are somewhat free - God is perfectly/infinitely/asymptotically free
How does this contradict the idea that humans are made in the image of God?
Well it all depends on where you draw the line with what like means. I see your view but isn't god infinitely more these things than we are? If god is good all the time and nothing we do is good as the bible says then how are these alike?
 
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Clizby WampusCat

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Are you asking how the ancients would have interpreted this? After all, it was written to them in their own language, not to us in English.
No, that is useless. Are you saying that only the ancients were made in gods image? I want to know how Christians today understand this verse.

It means that he created us to represent him on earth. We exercise authority here on his behalf. We "image" him here. He has shared with us enough of his attributes that we can do the job, such as creativity, intelligence, and free will.
How do you know this is what it means?
 
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ChetSinger

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No, that is useless. Are you saying that only the ancients were made in gods image? I want to know how Christians today understand this verse.
Based on the questions in your first post ("What does it mean that we are made in Gods image?" and "So how are we made in Gods image?") I thought you wanted to learn the original meaning of that passage as understood by the culture that wrote it. But if you're just looking for people's opinions of it, then never mind.

How do you know this is what it means?
If you're interested I'll refer you to the pdf I linked to in post #14. It's an example of modern scholarship and is a good introduction to the subject, imo.
 
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ChetSinger

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I beg to disagree. The original intention before being booted from the Garden was under His will only. We were an extension yes, but we took it upon ourselves to self determine and fell out of favour. The Bible from beginning to end is one long account of God saying His will be done before the will of man, and the results of man failing to adhere to that commandment. The good news of the Kingdom was that God's will would indeed be done in earth once again as it was in Heaven.
Yes, I don't mean to discount the Fall. But even since becoming sinful we are still images of God:

With it (the tongue) we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image. - James 3:9​

So being an image of God doesn't require one to be righteous, but simply a human who has received the dominion mandate given to us in Genesis. That mandate has never been revoked so each of us remain his images, that is his representatives, until it is.
 
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timothyu

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So being an image of God doesn't require one to be righteous, but simply a human who has received the dominion mandate given to us in Genesis. That mandate has never been revoked so each of us remain his images, that is his representatives, until it is.
And is not that mandate to do His will and not our own? God cannot work through us as long as we rebel.
 
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Clizby WampusCat

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Based on the questions in your first post ("What does it mean that we are made in Gods image?" and "So how are we made in Gods image?") I thought you wanted to learn the original meaning of that passage as understood by the culture that wrote it. But if you're just looking for people's opinions of it, then never mind.
Do you think it meant something different to ancient people than it does today? Why would God allow that in his word?

If you're interested I'll refer you to the pdf I linked to in post #14. It's an example of modern scholarship and is a good introduction to the subject, imo.
Looks real good. Why is that interpretation correct and another person's here not correct?
 
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ChetSinger

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And is not that mandate to do His will and not our own? God cannot work through us as long as we rebel.
I agree. But the OP's specific question regarded the quality of being God's images as declared in Genesis. And we remain his images (his representatives) here whether we do his will or not, until he revokes our status.
 
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DiscipleHeLovesToo

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Clizby WampusCat - do you have any proof that we are not made in God's image? you noted in previous post that your evaluation of the Bible reveals that this is not so - does this mean you accept the Bible as authoritative about God?
 
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ChetSinger

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Do you think it meant something different to ancient people than it does today?
Good question. That's one of the tasks of modern scholars: to ascertain the original meanings of texts. To do that we need to understand the cultures those texts were written in. For example, after Naaman the Syrian was healed of his leprosy he asked the prophet Elisha for two cartloads of Israelite dirt to carry back to Syria with him. Why? It turns out there's an unwritten cultural backstory involved, revolving around the concept of "the gods of the nations", and entire papers have been written on it.

Why would God allow that in his word?
Gotta ask God. He lets our minds draw whatever we want out of it, whether correct or not. And some things he truly hides, just so that we can seek after it: "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.".

Looks real good. Why is that interpretation correct and another person's here not correct?
I think you should just use your best judgment for that.
 
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Clizby WampusCat

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Good question. That's one of the tasks of modern scholars: to ascertain the original meanings of texts. To do that we need to understand the cultures those texts were written in. For example, after Naaman the Syrian was healed of his leprosy he asked the prophet Elisha for two cartloads of Israelite dirt to carry back to Syria with him. Why? It turns out there's an unwritten cultural backstory involved, revolving around the concept of "the gods of the nations", and entire papers have been written on it.
Yes, how do I know they are correct?


Gotta ask God. He lets our minds draw whatever we want out of it, whether correct or not. And some things he truly hides, just so that we can seek after it: "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.".
So there is no way to know since many Christians ask god and get different interpretations.


I think you should just use your best judgment for that.
So you don't have a way to know if someone is correct in their interpretation of a biblical passage?
 
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ChetSinger

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Yes, how do I know they are correct?


So there is no way to know since many Christians ask god and get different interpretations.


So you don't have a way to know if someone is correct in their interpretation of a biblical passage?
You have a brain and it seems like a good one. Use it to sift the data and draw your own conclusions.
 
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Clizby WampusCat

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You have a brain and it seems like a good one. Use it to sift the data and draw your own conclusions.
Ok, I have. But I have no way of knowing what interpretation is correct. What standard of interpretation am I supposed to use? The fact is when interpreting the bible no one knows what it actually is saying in some areas as attested to the many different beliefs and interpretations about the bible. I can draw conclusions all day but how do I gain confidence that they are correct?
 
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ChetSinger

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Ok, I have. But I have no way of knowing what interpretation is correct. What standard of interpretation am I supposed to use? The fact is when interpreting the bible no one knows what it actually is saying in some areas as attested to the many different beliefs and interpretations about the bible. I can draw conclusions all day but how do I gain confidence that they are correct?
Accept that in this life our knowledge is partial and that complete knowledge waits for the resurrection:

"Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."​

So for now just do the best you can. Isn't it when we think we know it all that we stop trying to learn?
 
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timothyu

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I can draw conclusions all day but how do I gain confidence that they are correct?
You start with the basic principle of what God, Jesus and the Bible teaches. God's will before man's. That pretty well eliminates all the theology and doctrines and clears a path to clear thinking.
 
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Clizby WampusCat

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Accept that in this life our knowledge is partial and that complete knowledge waits for the resurrection:

"Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."​

So for now just do the best you can. Isn't it when we think we know it all that we stop trying to learn?
This is not a good way to how to determine what is true. I will stick with my method. It is when we are unwilling to say "I don't know" is when we stop learning. Why do you accept that the verse you quoted is true?
 
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ChetSinger

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This is not a good way to how to determine what is true. I will stick with my method. It is when we are unwilling to say "I don't know" is when we stop learning. Why do you accept that the verse you quoted is true?
Because I have faith in God.
 
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