BiblicalTheological Seminary

Dr.Robert C. Newman

IMAGINGGOD IN HUMAN ACTIVITY*

Introduction

Mankindwas created in the image of God

Gen1:26-27

Evidentlythis image was not destroyed by the Fall

Gen9:6; Jas 3:9

Yetit was sufficiently distorted that it must be restored or renewed inregeneration and sanctification

Col3:10; Eph 4:24

Thoughthe explicit "image" passages in Scripture are only a handful, thereare hundreds of passages in which God pictures himself as a human involvedin some activity or relationship, thereby suggesting that we image God invarious of our relationships and activities

God as Potter, Mankind as Clay

Aspotter makes clay pots, so God made us.

Isa64:8; 29:15-16; 45:9

Asclay pots are fragile, so are we.

Job10:8-9; 33:6-7; Jer 19:1-13; Ps 2:9

Aspotter makes pots for various purposes, so God makes us.

Rom9:19-24; Jer 18:1-12; Acts 9:15; 2 Tim 2:20-21

God as Farmer, Mankind as Plant

Therighteous pictured as healthy tree.

Ps1:3; 92:12-14; Jer 17:7-8

Thewicked pictured as endangered plants.

Ps1:4; Isa 5:1-7; Ezk 15:1-8; Lk 13:6-9; Mt 3:8-10

God'sgrace to Gentiles pictured as grafting.

Rom11:17-24; cp Jn 15:1-9

God as Shepherd, Mankind as Sheep

Shepherdseeks/finds sheep.

Isa53:6; Lk 15:4-7; Jer 50:6-7,17-20; Ezk 34:11-16

Shepherdleads his flock.

Ps23:2-3; 80:1; 78:52-54; Jn 10:1-5

Shepherdfeeds his sheep.

Ps23:1-2; Ezk 34:12-15

Shepherdprotects from predators.

Ps23:4; Jer 50:18-19; Ezk 34:12-16

Shepherdwill even die for his sheep.

Zec13:7; Jn 10:11-12; Mt 26:31

Slaughterof sheep

Ezk34:16-24; see also Mt 25:32-33

God as King, Mankind as Subjects

Kinghas/deserves prestige.

Mal1:6-14

Kingrules.

Ps29:1-11; Ps 47; Dan 4:17,25,37; 1 Tim 6:15

Kingprotects his subjects.

Ps10:12-18; 74:12; Isa 33:22

Insultagainst king is rebellion.

Lk19:11-27; Mt 22:1-14

God as Master, Mankind as Slaves

Socommon a picture as to be a "dead" metaphor.

Lord,servant

Masterdeserves honor/respect.

Mal1:6

Reflectedin human master/slave relationships.

Eph6:5-9; Col 3:22-4:1

God as Father/Parent, Mankind asChildren

Replacementfor mother & father.

Ps27:10

Mothering

Ps131:2; Dt 32:11; Mt 23:37

God'snatural children

Jn1:12-13; 1 Pet 1:3

God'sadopted children

Gal4:4-7; Rom 8:14-19

Wehave a family resemblance.

1Jn 3:1-10; Mt 5:43-48; Jn 8:36-47

Godprovides as a good father does.

Mt7:7-11

Goddisciplines.

Heb12:5-11

Godloves and forgives.

Lk15:11-32

God as Husband, Mankind as Wife

Isthis the point of 1 Cor 11:7?

1Cor 11:7 (NIV) A man ought not to cover his head, sincehe is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

Marriagecovenant parallel to that with God.

Jer31:32; Isa 54:10; Ps 45:10; Eph 5:26-27; 2Cor 11:2-3

Mutuallove and joy

Ps45:11,15; Isa 62:5; Eph 5:25

Wife'ssubmission

Ps45:11; Eph 5:24

Bearingof children

Isa54:1; Ps 45:16

Husbandprovides, protects.

Eph5:23; Isa 54:14-17

Breakingof marriage cp to apostasy

Hos1-3; Jer 3:1,8; Isa 54:6-8; 62:4

Rebellion and Satan’s Image

Familyresemblance

Jn8:44; 1 Jn 3:8,10; Mt 3:7

Goddespises this image.

Ps73:20

Rebellionas a result of the Fall

Gen3:16-17; Gen 9:2-3; Rom 8:19-22

Distortionintroduced into imaging relations

Fromupper side:

mistreatmentof environment

tyrranyby rulers, employers

abuseof children, wife

Fromlower side:

environmentresists

citizensdisobey

employeesgoof-off

chidrendisobey

wifenot subject

Conclusions

Theseimages can help us understand God better, esp through experiencing what itfeels like to act as God.

Theseimages can help us understand how we should act as potters, farmers, parents,etc.

Theseimages can help unsaved to see God for first time.

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*for more detail, see Robert C. Newman,"Some Perspectives on the Image of God in Man from BiblicalTheology," IBRI Research Report 21 (1984).