What Is the Image of God (Imago Dei)?
Quick Summary
The image of God (Latin imago Dei) is the biblical truth that humanity is created in God's likeness. It means that every human being bears divine dignity, purpose, and moral capacity. The image of God is not about physical resemblance but about reflecting God's nature in our character, relationships, and stewardship of creation. Though sin has distorted this image, it is being restored through Jesus Christ.
Introduction
From the opening of Scripture we hear a staggering declaration: “Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). This truth shapes everything about who we are and how we live. To be made in God's image means that human life has sacred worth. It means our identity, purpose, and destiny are not self-defined but God-given. It means that every act of love, justice, and creativity echoes something of the Creator himself.
The phrase imago Dei has fueled centuries of reflection. What does it mean to bear God's image? How has sin affected that image? And how does Christ restore what was lost? Scripture gives us a vision of humanity that is both humbling and hopeful.
The Meaning of the Image of God in Scripture
The Hebrew words used in Genesis—tselem (image) and demût (likeness)—emphasize representation, not duplication. Humanity is not divine, but we are created to mirror divine attributes: reason, moral awareness, relationship, and stewardship. To bear God's image is to be his visible representative within creation.
God is spirit (John 4:24), so the image cannot be physical. It is spiritual, relational, and ethical. The image of God expresses itself in our capacity to know God, to choose good, to love others, and to exercise care over creation. Humanity’s dignity flows from this divine imprint. As Psalm 8 declares, God has crowned human beings “with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5).
The Image of God and Human Purpose
To be made in God's image is to be given vocation. In Genesis 1:28, God blesses humanity and commands them to “fill the earth and subdue it.” This does not mean domination or exploitation, but stewardship—tending creation as God’s caretakers. Our creative work, compassion, and pursuit of justice all reflect the image we bear.
This image also grounds human equality. Every person—male and female, young and old, rich and poor—shares the same divine imprint. It is what makes oppression, prejudice, and violence moral evils. The worth of every human life rests not on ability or achievement but on being made by God.
The Distortion of the Image
When sin entered the world, the image of God in humanity was not erased but corrupted. Our minds, hearts, and wills no longer perfectly reflect God’s holiness. We still bear the image, but it is marred. Like a mirror cracked, it reflects truth but with distortion.
Genesis 9:6 affirms that the image remains even after the fall: “For in his own image God made humankind.” James echoes this truth when he warns against cursing those “made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9). The image is damaged yet indelible.
Sin bends the human heart inward, away from its Creator. Instead of reflecting God, we attempt to replace him. The result is brokenness—in ourselves, our relationships, and our world.
Christ as the Perfect Image of God
The New Testament proclaims that Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and “the exact imprint of God’s very being” (Hebrews 1:3). In him, the image of God is seen perfectly and fully. What humanity failed to be, Christ is. What was broken in us is made whole in him.
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus restores the divine image in those who believe. Paul writes that believers are “being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). To follow Christ is to be remade in his likeness—the true image renewed by grace.
Living as Image-Bearers
Bearing God’s image carries both privilege and responsibility. It means we are called to:
Reflect God's character by living with integrity, mercy, and love.
Honor others as fellow image-bearers, treating every person with dignity.
Steward creation with care, using resources wisely and sustainably.
Seek justice and reconciliation, echoing God's heart for what is right.
To live as image-bearers is to let God’s goodness show through us. It is to reveal his presence in how we work, speak, forgive, and serve. Every act of faithfulness, however small, mirrors the One in whose image we are made.
The Restoration of the Image
Salvation is not only forgiveness but renewal. Through the Spirit, believers are remade after the pattern of Christ. Paul writes, “You have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10).
This renewal continues throughout life and will be completed at the resurrection. “When he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). The story that began in creation will end in restoration—the image of God fully reflected once again.
Christian Thinkers on the Image of God
Throughout church history, theologians have wrestled with what it means to be made in God’s image. Their insights have deepened the church’s understanding of human nature, dignity, and destiny.
Irenaeus (2nd century) distinguished between image and likeness. The image, he said, refers to our created nature as rational beings; the likeness is our moral and spiritual resemblance to God, which can grow or diminish. For Irenaeus, salvation restores what was lost and leads humanity toward full maturity in Christ.
Augustine (4th–5th centuries) saw the image of God most clearly in the human mind—memory, understanding, and will—reflecting the relational harmony of the Trinity. For him, the imago Dei pointed to humanity’s capacity for reason and love grounded in God.
Thomas Aquinas (13th century) emphasized both nature and grace. The image of God, he taught, is found in human intellect and moral freedom, yet it reaches fulfillment only through union with God by grace.
John Calvin (16th century) connected the image of God to righteousness and holiness. The image was corrupted by sin but not destroyed; it is renewed through the Spirit in Christ. Calvin’s view underscores both human dignity and the need for redemption.
Karl Barth (20th century) approached the doctrine relationally. He argued that the imago Dei is revealed most clearly in human relationships—especially the “I–Thou” encounter modeled in the communion between God and humanity.
These voices remind us that the image of God is not one-dimensional. It is intellectual, moral, relational, and spiritual. Each perspective contributes to a fuller understanding: to be human is to mirror God’s reality and to be drawn toward him in love and purpose.
Meaning for Today
In a culture obsessed with self-image, Scripture redirects our attention to God's image. Our worth does not depend on status, performance, or perfection but on divine design. The doctrine of the imago Dei challenges pride and despair alike. It calls us to humility, compassion, and hope.
Every face we see bears a trace of the Creator. Every act of love reaffirms the image. And every injustice denies it. To believe in the image of God is to see the world differently—to see beauty where others see brokenness, and potential where others see failure.
The image of God defines our identity, shapes our ethics, and fuels our mission. In Christ, the true image, we find what it means to be fully human.
FAQ
What does “image of God” mean?
It means that humans are created to reflect God's character, reason, morality, and relational nature.
Is the image of God physical?
No. God is spirit. The image refers to spiritual and moral likeness, not physical form.
Did the fall destroy the image of God?
No. Sin damaged but did not erase the image. It is still present in every person.
How is the image restored?
Through Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, believers are renewed into God's likeness.
Why does the image of God matter today?
It grounds human dignity, equality, and purpose. It calls us to honor others and live as faithful stewards of God's world.
