The Image of God in Biblical Theology

In ancient biblical times, most people lived under the absolute authority of kings.
These kings frequently asserted local divinity, claiming themselves to be the "image of god."
The title "image of god" carried specific functional meanings for these rulers:
- They possessed the ultimate authority to command the populace.
- They had the power to order the construction and creation of things.
- Crucially, they claimed the right to define the standards of good and evil for their subjects.
To represent their status, kings commissioned statues of themselves. In Hebrew, these statues were called $tselem$ , a term often translated as "idol" or "image."

The people of Israel held a unique view that contrasted sharply with contemporary cultures.
They did not view their human kings as gods.
Israelites were strictly prohibited from creating physical images or idols of God. This distinct practice was rooted in two primary theological beliefs:
- The Creator God cannot be reduced to or represented by any single element found within the created world.
- God has already provided images of Himself, making human-made statues unnecessary.

The first page of the Bible presents God as the supreme King over all creation.
- He possesses total authority, evidenced by His speech causing creation to obey.
- He alone defines what is "good" and "not good."
As the pinnacle of His creative acts, God created humans and designated all of them as the "image of God."
This designation was revolutionary for its time because it democratized the concept of ruling:
- The authority to rule and subdue the Earth was granted to all of humanity, not just a select elite or a specific king.
- Every human being is invited to participate in the "human project" of ruling the world.

In Genesis, the act of ruling is metaphorical and practically illustrated through the concept of gardening.
Ruling the Earth involves the following processes:
- Cultivation: Tending to the Earth to draw out its potential.
- Harnessing Potential: Taking the raw materials of the world and creating something new and more advanced.
The expansion of this rule follows a specific trajectory of human development:
- Growing food to sustain one another.
- Growing families.
- Developing neighborhoods and creating communities.
- Caretaking and mutual support within those communities.
- Establishing businesses and cities that expand into new territories.
Ruling is defined as the sacred, divine task of using daily work and creativity to move the world forward.

God provided humans with a choice regarding the exercise of their authority:
- Divine Rule: Using authority for the benefit of others, adhering to God's definition of good.
- Self-Advantage: Turning away from God to define good and evil on individual terms, using authority for selfish gain.
The biblical narrative identifies that humans chose to define good and evil on their own terms.
This choice defines the human condition:
- Humans are capable of occasionally achieving great good.
- Despite good intentions, humans frequently act out of selfishness, resulting in widespread suffering, injustice, and evil.
- Humanity remains "stuck" as mediocre rulers who create disorder in the world.

The Bible claims the resolution to human failure occurred when God bound Himself to humanity through Jesus.
Jesus serves as the model for true human rule:
- He ruled by serving others and seeking their best interest.
- He placed Himself underneath others in a posture of service.
- He practiced love for both friends and enemies.
Jesus directly confronted the consequences of human evil and death.
- He allowed the consequences of human failure to kill Him.
- Following His resurrection, He is viewed as the "New Human" or the true "image of God."
Jesus' divine life and power are now accessible to humans for healing and transformation.

The restoration of the image of God in humans is a practical process facilitated by the presence of Jesus' Spirit.
Character traits associated with this "new humanity" include:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Integrity
- Gentleness
- Self-control
The goal of this transformation is to restore people so they can effectively move the human project forward as God intended.

The story of the Bible concludes with a vision of a renewed world.
In this future world, God is seated on His throne.
His servants surround Him, but they are the ones actively ruling over this new world.
Humanity is depicted as taking the world into "uncharted territory" with Jesus acting as their healer and guide.

Who creates these videos? The BibleProject produces these videos. They operate on the belief that the Bible is a unified narrative that leads to Jesus and offers profound wisdom for the modern world.
What types of content are available? The project features several series, including:
- Walkthroughs of the design and message of specific books or sections of the Bible.
- Thematic studies that trace a single biblical theme (like "The Image of God") through the entire narrative arc of the Bible.
How is the BibleProject funded and accessed? The project is supported by one-time gifts and a growing number of monthly supporters. The goal is to keep all videos, full-resolution downloads, study guides, and posters free and available to everyone globally via jointhebibleproject.com.