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The words “image” and “likeness” are used synonymously and interchangeably, and therefore do not refer
to two different things. In Gen. 1:26 both words are used, but in the twenty-seventh verse only the first...In
Gen. 5:1 only the word “likeness” occurs, but in the third verse of that chapter both terms are again found.
Gen. 9:6 contains only the word “image” as a complete expression of the idea. Turning to the New
Testament, we find “image” and “glory” used in 1 Cor. 11:7, “image” alone in Col. 3:10, and “likeness”
only in James 3:9.

Now we can see that the terms image and likeness had quite clear meanings to
the original readers. When we realize that the Hebrew words for “image” and
“likeness” simply informed the original readers that man was like God, and
would in many ways represent God, much of the controversy over the meaning
of “image of God” is seen to be a search for too narrow and too specific a
meaning.

When Scripture reports that God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26), it
simply would have meant to the original readers, “Let us make man to be like us and to represent us.”
Theologians have spent much time endeavoring to specify one characteristic of man, or a very few, in
which the image of God is primarily seen. Here three main views:

a. The substantive view, which identifies some particular quality of man (such as reason or spirituality)
as being the image of God in man (Luther, Calvin, many early church writers).

b. Relational views, which held that the image of God had to do with our interpersonal relationships
(Emil Brunner; also, Karl Barth, who saw the image of God specifically in our being created as male
and female).

c. The functional view, which holds that the image of God has to do with a function we carry out, usually
our exercise of dominion over the creation (a Socinian view that is also held by some modern writers
such as Norman Snaith and Leonard Verduin).

The likeness to God is the most basic affirmation to be made concerning the nature of man from a
Christian perspective. Man is unique among the creatures in that he is like God and therefore able to have
communion and fellowship with God. “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own
image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27,
NASB95)
“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the
likeness of God” (Gen. 5:1, NASB95). ““Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For
in the image of God He made man.” (Gen. 9:6, NASB95). “For a man ought not to have his head covered,
since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man” (1 Cor. 11:7, NASB95).

Specific Aspects of Our Likeness to God.
Though we know that it is difficult to define all the ways in which we are like God, we can nevertheless
mention several aspects of our existence that show us to be more like God than all the rest of creation.

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