Created in the image of God

[HankD]

What do you think of these qualities in angels, who, as far as I know, are never said to be created "in the image of God"?

They therefore are probably not created in His image after His likeness.

While calvinists are opposed to the phrase "free will", personally I believe (whatever qualities others give the phrase) man has the ability to know good and evil in a different way than the angels, by the experience of evil and committing (participle) sin yet being redeemable. Not that God enters intothe realm of sin apart from the blood atonement of Jesus Christ for deliverance from sin's dominion.

I don't see "dominion" used of angels.

Mankind governmentally and socially functions apart from God (except for the church).

Redemption. Nothing in scripture concerning angel salvation.

I don't see angels called the brethren of God come in the flesh.

Are angels triune? "Our image", "Our likeness"?

Someone made the observation that angels are not spoken of as having the capacity of being filled or infilled of the Spirit.
Or that they must be born again.

Any other?

I would think that somehow these entities are probably related to mankind having been created in the image of God after His likeness.

 

[Aaron]

What do you think of these qualities in angels, who, as far as I know, are never said to be created "in the image of God"?

Angels don't marry.

 

[rlvaughn]

They therefore are probably not created in His image after His likeness...

I was thinking more along the lines of your comment about intelligence, reasoning ability, communication ability, and creativity. That is, I would think that angels would share those four qualities with man, so that it is hard for me to see them as defining "image of God." But perhaps you are thinking about specific things within these qualities (such as your mention of free will)?

 

[HankD]

I was thinking more along the lines of your comment about intelligence, reasoning ability, communication ability, and creativity. That is, I would think that angels would share those four qualities with man, so that it is hard for me to see them as defining "image of God." But perhaps you are thinking about specific things within these qualities (such as your mention of free will)?

Yes, I see your point.

Clarification.

I believe there is something about humankind that using all these elements we possess privately or in societal effort an ability to bring about a kind of divine spark "elan vital" (Henri Bergson - Creative Evolution, 1907) known only to man. We are creative - radios, TVs, automobiles, airplanes, thermonuclear bombs, etc...).

Never heard of angels being creative.

The act of making scrambled eggs of our pre-Babel language greatly hindered that ability but that hindrance is now a thing of the past.

 

[Yeshua1]

I was thinking more along the lines of your comment about intelligence, reasoning ability, communication ability, and creativity. That is, I would think that angels would share those four qualities with man, so that it is hard for me to see them as defining "image of God." But perhaps you are thinking about specific things within these qualities (such as your mention of free will)?

Saved humanity will be on ahigher level than the angels also....

 

[rlvaughn]

When you write "a higher level," what do you mean by that?

 

[FollowTheWay]

I think created in the image of God means created to have a close relationship with Him not as equals but as beings that are capable of agape love and of understanding the truths of God. Because of the Fall of man we lost this relationship but certain individuals like Abraham, Moses and david regained a part of it. Even so, they were not capable of seeing God face to face.

1Co 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

In Heaven after the process of sanctification is complete "People of the Way" will be restored to the intimate relationship Adam and Eve had with Him in the Garden of Eden.

 

[Deacon]

What do you think of these qualities in angels, who, as far as I know, are never said to be created "in the image of God"?

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. Genesis 1:26 CSB

Some use this verse to say that God is a Trinity, others say that God is speaking to his Heavenly Host, the council (Psalm 82)

God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods:,
Psalm 82:1 CSB​

If God is speaking to the Heavenly Host then he speaks to them as they too were imagers.

Rob

 

[HankD]

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. Genesis 1:26 CSB

Some use this verse to say that God is a Trinity, others say that God is speaking to his Heavenly Host, the council (Psalm 82)

God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods:,
Psalm 82:1 CSB​

If God is speaking to the Heavenly Host then he speaks to them as they too were imagers.

Rob

I once read a piece by an orthodox rabbi (I've forgotten his name, publication - 30 years ago). He is/was a teacher of children.
Other Hebrew scholars he said see the plural as representing angels. This rabbi said - don't attribute to angels where no angels are spoken of in the text.

He honestly said he was not sure why these plural pronouns were used - perhaps to magnify His glory.

 

[Yeshua1]

When you write "a higher level," what do you mean by that?

1 Corinthians 6:37, if we are to stand in judgement over fallen angels, nust be superior to them...

 

[Yeshua1]

I once read a piece by an orthodox rabbi (I've forgotten his name, publication - 30 years ago). He is/was a teacher of children.
Other Hebrew scholars he said see the plural as representing angels. This rabbi said - don't attribute to angels where no angels are spoken of in the text.

He honestly said he was not sure why these plural pronouns were used - perhaps to magnify His glory.

Is it not a reference to plurality of majesty of God?

 

[HankD]

Is it not a reference to plurality of majesty of God?

No it is in reference to the Trinity - Three persons in one divine essence.

 

[Yeshua1]

that is what I was attempting to say!

 

[Deacon]

So options concerning the "us" and"our" of Genesis 1:26 include:

1) Trinity
2) Plurality of kingship
3) Divine Council​

How do we decide which is correct? Should doctrine be our guide for the interpretation of Scripture? ....or does Scripture guide our doctrine?
How would the original audience interpret the passage?

Is a decision necessary with this passage or is it enough to list the possible options?
Could it be more than one?

I only brought it up because the third option implies that angels share the imager role.

Rob

 

[Yeshua1]

So options concerning the "us" and"our" of Genesis 1:26 include:

1) Trinity
2) Plurality of kingship
3) Divine Council​

How do we decide which is correct? Should doctrine be our guide for the interpretation of Scripture? ....or does Scripture guide our doctrine?
How would the original audience interpret the passage?

Is a decision necessary with this passage or is it enough to list the possible options?
Could it be more than one?

I only brought it up because the third option implies that angels share the imager role.

Rob

Does the progressive revelation from God to us that He is truine be part of this, as the first readers/hearers might not have caught that?

 

[TCassidy]

2) Plurality of kingship

Most likely.

How do we decide which is correct?

Just agree with me and you can't go wrong.

Is a decision necessary with this passage

Nope. Irrelevant, like most of the stuff on here.

 

[HankD]

So options concerning the "us" and"our" of Genesis 1:26 include:

1) Trinity
2) Plurality of kingship
3) Divine Council​

How do we decide which is correct? Should doctrine be our guide for the interpretation of Scripture? ....or does Scripture guide our doctrine?
How would the original audience interpret the passage?

Is a decision necessary with this passage or is it enough to list the possible options?
Could it be more than one?

I only brought it up because the third option implies that angels share the imager role.

Rob

#1 is correct: In Genesis 1:26 the name of God - Elohim - is plural - אֱלֹהִים

 

[Rob_BW]

I've read that they plurality of majesty wasn’t a feature of Hebrew?

 

[HankD]

I've read that they plurality of majesty wasn’t a feature of Hebrew?

Yes it is but perhaps not in our narrow meaning of "majesty".

In the Hebrew mind It means any expression of greatness

Take the Hebrew word for water: mayim

Like Elohim it is always plural - waters - although English speaking bibles translate it singular in most cases.

What is it that is that is "majestic" about water? There is so MUCH of it on planet earth in all its forms (ocean, seas, floods, rain, fog, etc...)

Also, I read one rabbinical statement that said God did not create water - it is eternal (sic.),.

 

[loDebar]

let m

We will be pysically glorified beings

Let me rephase the question as not to mislead.

Why are we flesh and blood?