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 SatanŐs 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).