What Does it Mean to be Made in God's Image?

What Does It Mean to be Made in God's Image?

In Genesis 1:27, we read: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them," (Genesis 1:27 NIV). There are a great sum of interpretations on what the Imago Deī, of image of God, means. 

Literal Interpretation:
One interpretation takes the passage literally. This belief, propagated by Mormons(or L.D.S.), states that mankind is literally made in the image of God, i.e. looking like God does. This concept is very contradictory of the concept of God being transcendent as most Christians believe. In the Gospel of John, we read: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth," (John 4:24 KJV). If God is Spirit, it can not be possible we are made literally in his image. 

Substantive View(Pscyholgical View):

This view takes Genesis more metaphorically, that the way we act mirrors God to some extent. We both are rational beings, we both can create, we both love, and we both understand morality. 

Work Cited:

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.