Understanding Genesis #2: Image of God

In this study, Rob leads a group through Gen 1:26-28 and discusses the questions of "what does it mean that humankind is made in the Image of God"? and "who was God speaking to when He said, "Let us make man in Our Image"?  

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Notes for today's study

1:24-31: Day 6: Land animals and Man

5 elements in the formation of humankind

• God blessed them
• Fruitful and multiply
• Fill the earth
• Subdue the earth
• Rule over all the earth

Cp 1:28; Noah 9:1-7; Abraham 12:2-3; 17:2, 6, 8; 22:17-18; Isaac 26:3, 4, 24; Jacob 28:3-4, 13-14; 35:11-12; 47:27; 48:3-4; Israel Exod 1:7, 12, 20; Num 23:10-11; Deut 7:13; Ps 107:38

Cp Lev 26:9; Deut 7:13; 15:4-6; 28:11-12; 30:16; 1 Chron 4:10; 17:9-11, 27; Ps 8:5-8; 107:37-38; Isa 51:2-3; 54:1-3; Jer 3:16, 18; 23:3; Ezek 36:9-12; Hos 1:10

 

1. Creation of mankind (26)

1. Change from ‘let there be . . .’ to ‘let us make . . .’
2. Repetition of ‘God created man . . . He created them . . . male and female He created them’
3. Addition of ‘subdue and rule over’

 

1. ‘Let us make man in our image and in our likeness’: stress point in the formation of mankind
2. Hebrew parallelism? No difference between the two terms?
3. All are made in God’s image
4. To be human is to bear God’s image
5. Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10: one is becoming the image of God through the process of salvation
6. ‘Let them rule’: (26): Subdue (kabas) the earth and Rule (radah) over the creatures (28)

1. Subdue the earth: may suggest no more than the task of agriculture
2. Rule over the creatures: exercising dominion over the rest of creation

1. God delegates to mankind His own kingly authority
2. This is the role of Image Bearers

1. 1:28: adds ‘subdue’: more forceful; indicates subjecting the one to slavery; here it probably parallels 2:5, 15 ‘keep the land’
2. Man is distinguished sexually; not by various species (sexual distinction with the animals comes in 6:19)
3. ‘Male and female’: specifies who it was that was made in the image of God

1. The dominion was not for the sake of ruling in itself; but for the well-being of that which they rule over

1. Be fruitful and multiply (28; Cf Isa 45:18) Created it to be inhabited

1. Commission given to Noah (9:1, 7); Abraham (12:2-3; 17:2, 6, 8; 22:16-18); Isaac (26:3, 4, 24); Jacob (28:3-4, 14; 35:11-12; 48:3, 15-16); to Israel (Gen  47:27; Deut 7:13; Exod 1:7; Ps 107:38; Isa 51:2; Lev 26:9; Jer 3:16; 23:3; Ezek 36:10-11, 29-30;
2. Thus, Israel was to embody the purpose for humanity

1. ‘It was very good’ (31)

 

Adam and Even fail and the commission of Gen 1:28 is given to:

• Noah 9:1, 7
• Abraham 12:2-3; 17:2, 6, 8, 16; 22:18
• Isaac 26:3-4, 24
• Jacob 28:3-4, 14; 35:11-12; 48:3, 15-16
• Israel Deut 7:13; Gen 47:27; Exod 1:7; Ps 107:38; Isa 51:2

 

 

Understanding Gen 1 in light of the NT!

 

Rev 1:6 Kings/queens priests

Rev 5:9-10

Rev 20:4

Mark 10:42-45

Luke 22:29-30

Exod 19:4-6

Exod 17

Mark 10:42-45

Luke 22

1 Pet 2:9