22 - Erikson - The Image of God in the Human

Question 1

What are the three views of the image of God?

Answer 1

1. The substantive view
2. The relational view
3. The functional view

Question 2

What is the substantive view?

Answer 2

The image of God to be an aspect of our physical or bodily make up.

Question 3

What is the relational view?

Answer 3

The image of God as the experiencing of a relationship

Question 4

Who made a distinction between image and likeness?

Answer 4

Irenaeus

Question 5

What points about the relational view do Barth and Brunner agree on?

Answer 5

1. The image of God is best understood through a study of the person of Jesus, not of human nature.
2. We obtain our understanding of the image from the divine revelation
3. The image is a matter of one’s relationship to God.
4. The relationship of a human to God is paralleled by the relationship between humans.
5. The image of God is universal; it is found in all humans at all times and places
6. No conclusion can or need be drawn as to what there might be in a person’s nature that would constitute ability to have such a relationship

Question 6

What is the postmodern Christian perspective on the image of God?

Answer 6

humans collectively are the image of God, rather than individuals, in the eschatological dimension as well as the ongoing present reality.

Question 7

What is the functional view?

Answer 7

It consists in something one does

Question 8

What inferences about the Image of God does Erikson make from the Bible?

Answer 8

1. The image of God is universal within the human race.
2. The image of God has not been lost as a result of sin or specifically the fall.
3. There is no indication that the image is present in one person to a greater degree than in another
4. The image should be thought of as primarily substantive or structural.
5. The image refers to the elements in the human makeup that enable the fulfillment of human destiny.

Question 9

How does Jesus show us the perfect example of what human nature should be?

Answer 9

1. He had perfect fellowship with the Father
2. He obeyed the Father’s will perfectly
3. He displayed a strong love for humans

Question 10

What are the implications of the doctrine of the image of God in humans?

Answer 10

1. We belong to God.
2. We should pattern ourselves after Jesus.
3. We experience full humanity only when we are properly related to God.
4. Learning and work are good.
5. The human is valuable.
6. The image is universal in humankind.