Copy Me
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him, Colossians 3:10 NASB
Image – Paul is the only New Testament author who uses the phrase “image of God” in the technical sense found in Genesis. There are only four occasions where Paul uses this expression. While Paul asserts that those who put on the new life in Christ are transformed in accordance with the original intention of “image of God,” he points to Yeshua as the paradigm example of what this means. In Colossians 1:15, Paul claims that Yeshua is the image of the invisible God. This should point us toward a clear interpretation of the meaning of this phrase, “image of God.” Obviously, it cannot mean human beings are some kind of physical copy of God since God is invisible and spirit. Theologians who pursue the idea that “image” means sharing qualities offer similarities such a personality, will, cognition, communication; all held in some analogous way. This is the approach of the classic theologians such as Aquinas.
But it doesn’t seem to fit very well with Paul’s Hebraic worldview. In Hebrew thought, the structure of the world is about participation, relationship and representation. Thus, we are in God’s image when we represent Him in our actions. Our role is to be His regents, making choices on His behalf and exercising options that express His will. In this sense, human beings actually are the image of God in the world. This position distinguishes between being in God’s image and being God’s image.
If we apply this insight to Paul’s description of the image of God, we notice that Yeshua’s actions (thought, word and deed) are the basis for claiming that He is the perfect representative of God’s image. Copying His actions produces the same image in us, not as some attribute added to a human core, but rather as the true meaning of the word “human”. If we act like God, we are God’s image. If we do not, we are not. Image is not a substance that I have because I am homo sapien. Image is a summary of my presence in the world. To be in God’s image is to do what God does. This begs the question, “What does God do?” Once we have answered that, we need only ask if we are doing the same things God does.
Notice that Paul says we are being renewed. Being in the image of God is not an instant transformation. It is a process that takes a good long time. Notice also the direction of this process. It is a return to the image revealed in Genesis 1:26-27. This is not a utopian hope in the future. This is a return (shuv) to the relationship, participation and representation in the Garden. If you are in God’s image, you’re headed back to the beginning. You might ask yourself about the direction you’re taking today. Are you returning or are you moving on? What actions will you take that exhibit the same dynamic transparency found in Eden? How close is your copy of Yeshua’s thoughts, words and deeds? Are you a Gardener or a Go-Getter?
Topical Index: image of God, eikon, demut, Colossians 3:10, Genesis 1:26-27
PHOENIX CONFERENCE DATES SET
May 9-10 with Bob Gorelik Theme: Living the Biblical Worldview
WOODSTOCK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sH0uR2u7Hs
Well I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him tell where are you going
This he told me:
Said, I’m going down to Yasgur’s farm
Going to join in a rock and roll band
Got to get back to the land, and set my soul free.
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.
Well, then can I roam beside you?
I have come to lose the smog
And I feel myself a cog in something turning.
And maybe it’s the time of year
Yes, said maybe it’s the time of man.
And I don’t know who I am but life is for learning.
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.
By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere was song and celebration.
And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the sky
Turning into butterflies above our nation.
We are stardust, we are golden
We are caught in the devil’s bargain,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
Cool… but I’ve got to wonder if CSN&Y had this biblical thought in mind?
I am sure Joni Mitchell did NOT when she wrote the song. BTW, I use those lyrics in Guardian Angel
” I’ve got to wonder if CSN&Y had this biblical thought in mind?”
Hi Mark,
I won’t get into authorial intention, but the following parts of the song are obviously biblical
– “a child of God” (that includes Jesus, aka “peace and love”)
– “walking along the road” (the righteous path)
– “get back to the land” (Promised)
– “set my soul free” (salvation)
– “back to the garden” (Eden before the fall / “Heaven is in your mind,” another 60’s song)
Haven’t found Joni in Guardian Angel yet 🙂
CSN&Y are on the last few pages of the book.
That is interesting, I just had a discussion with Rodney Baker on Facebook about some Hebrew grammar rule. Thought you might like one of his comments:
“[I]t is important to remember that the Hebrew world view is primarily concerned with function rather than form; therefore, to be created “in the image of God” has more to do with the PURPOSE for which man was created than with the attributes (physical or otherwise) of Adam – that is, to bring the kingdom (the rule and reign) of God to earth and to partner with God in bringing order to His creation; to be a part of the ongoing creative process with God and to reveal Him in and to the world through our actions (how we live).”
And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this ?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s ; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matt 22: 20-21NAS)…same point in these verses, I believe, since we are created in His likeness (image).
IF we are thinking in Greek – ikon – then you are correct. But now we need to think in Hebrew – tselem and demut – action not image.
–But now we need to think in Hebrew – tselem and demut – action not image —
What does a Savior do? He saves.
What does a Redeemer do? He redeems.
What does a Righteous Judge do? He judges righteously.
What does the “God Who provides” do? He provides
What does the God who protects- the God Who is our Shield do? He protects
What does our God full of mercy do? He shows mercy.
What does our God full of forgiveness do? He forgives.
What does the ONE who restores the years the locusts have eaten do? He restores unto us the years that the locusts have eaten..
What does the God who is love do? He loves.
What does the God who hears and answers our prayers do? He hears and answers our prayers.
Over three hundred “names” have been attributed our God and King- shall we continue?
His Name is Wonderful!
~ And the Child shall be called … “Pele-yoez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom…” (but wait!!- there is more!- so much more..)
DeMuT
Hi Carl,
One of my dearest words
Not by the “ring of fire” this time
Our door to water to crucifixion
Reminds me of something I found regarding the Torah being the ‘tree of life’ (Proverbs 3:18).
What do you mean by gardener versus go-getter?
I have a friend who is all about what he wants, his dreams, his vision and really doesn’t care if you’re in his life or not, he says he does but his words and actions often betray that. He claims to be Torah observant. If you have adversity in relationships is it in His image to say to someone you are in a committed relationship with ‘Sure we will be together if we still get along?’ Is that Hebrew or Greek? Doesn’t sound like he knows the first thing about commitment. What is the God image of that? What drives someone to be in a self preservation mode? I thought the image of God was relationships and not an island mentality. What is the Hebrew Image and pattern for difficult times of disagreement?
Lots of questions, Theresa. What I mean by Gardener is someone who is working the Garden, someone who is doing what it means to be in God’s image. It is the picture of Eden before the serpent. The pursuit of acquisition, whether goods or services (and people can be either), is not being a Gardener.
Most of your questions can be answered by a thorough reading of Guardian Angel.
Learning to think a different way is hard work…but good work. Can anyone help me with this question: How does being made in the image of God affect the way we look at Romans 1:20–“…His invisible attributes are clearly seen…even His…Godhead…” What is this “Godhead”? Since human beings are the chief of the “things that are made,” how do we represent the “Godhead”?
I have lectured on this problem while in South Africa. Those lectures might be recorded. I think the lecture in Virginia Beach last year on this topic was recorded. Anyway, check the audio files on my web site and see if there is something there on Being Human.
There is much on Being Human in your audio series on prayer.
Hi Skip,
I just came across the following information and wonder what you think about it?
Jesus’ Sacrifice in Word “Torah”
The Hebrew word h r w t is translated as “Torah” in the English language
It refers to the first five books written by Moses.
The following shows ancient pictures for these Hebrew characters that clarify the meaning of “Torah”:
= (t tav) meaning “cross”
= (w vav) meaning “nail”
= (r resh) meaning “the highest”(or “a man”)
= (h hay) meaning “to reveal”
Taking these characters and their meanings together, we see that the word for Torah means
“[To] a cross [is] nail[ed] the highest, it is revealed [in the Torah]”.
Frank Seekins is the pioneer in using Hebrew word pictures to discover deeper truths. I really appreciate his work, but it contains one difficulty. Hanson’s work on perceptual reality (the famous duck-rabbit) demonstrates that the perceptual paradigm often tells the observer what to look for – and so, of course, he finds it. Benjamin Lee Whorf discovered the same paradigm-dependent reality. So while Seekins helps me see layers of meaning, the very fact that Hebrew letter are used for alternate pictures means that there is more than one meaning to be drawn from any combination of letters. I think I said something about this in a footnote to a TW recently, on the meaning of Adam.
t = “cross”
w = “nail”
r = “highest”
h = “to reveal”
Just a funny story about my father who coached midget football when I was a kid
One of my earliest memories, when the midgets seemed like big guys to me
Was my father telling me about his favorite player, Alex Johnson
After a game he would take some of the “colored” kids home
To the poorest and roughest part of town
On the way home one Saturday afternoon, he turned to me and said
“I’ve never seen anything like Alex, that skinny little kid is a 1st rate halfback”
“But on defense he is unbelievable”
“At middle linebacker he can stop a fullback twice his weight dead in his tracks”
“He hits them in the chest and just nails them to a cross”
That was the highest compliment I ever saw him give anybody in my life