The True Meaning of the Image of God - Michael Heiser

The idea of humans being made in the image of God is foundational to both individual and collective identity—according to scripture, it is not a capacity you acquire incrementally or lose depending on intelligence, development, or consciousness, unlike qualities such as brainpower, sentience, or even having a soul or spirit, which are shared with animals or can vary through life’s stages. Rather, being “in the image of God” is a role or status possessed equally by all people, regardless of ability, age, health, race, or other divisions; it is not a list of attributes, but the function of representing God on earth, being His imager and agent. This status means every person—regardless of whether they are in a womb, in a coma, or at the end of life—bears God’s image, and thus has inherent dignity independent of qualities like intelligence (noting the example where even chickens can sometimes outscore toddlers in animal cognition studies). Interpreting the biblical language in Genesis and elsewhere, the “image” should be understood as serving as God’s representative, not as a particular talent or status; “bearing the name” of God is a closely related idea—living as those associated with, and responsible for, his reputation. The fall breaks this intended role, but the Christian tradition teaches that through Jesus—the perfect image of God—believers are being restored to fulfill their intended purpose: to participate with God and manifest his character in the world, not by physical likeness, but by reflecting his ways, attitudes, and behavior regardless of human distinctions or social divisions. #imageofgod #jesus #bible #michaelheiser #truth #glory #grace