What do people mean when they say man is made in God's image?

Question

This is a Christianity question. A couple of months ago I was at a Christian meeting, and a man was actually discussing this, and it got me a little confused. He was specifically referring to males and how they're made in God's image. He was describing his experience, where after giving a speech, an offended woman had come up to him, very upset that he had not included her to be made in God's "image" too.
So does this mean that man is physcially made in God's image? I always assumed it to be a more spiritual thing, so both men and women would be included, and it would separate us from God because God is perfection, and we are not? How could we bring ourselves to God's level?
I am very confused. What did this man mean? Is he right in his theory of men being made in God's image, and exactly what does this mean? Thanks :)

I remember him specifically saying, "for example, I would not like to look at you if you were made in God's image.

Answer 1

We are all made in God's image because we are all God's children. There are some places in the bible which uses the word ''man'' as meaning all people. For example, some poems may use this word in a similar way. In this instance, the 1st chapter of Genesis, which means ''the beginning'', the scripture has a double meaning. In verse 26 the bible says, ''Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'' We are made in God's spiritual image. God himself does not have a human form as we do so ''after our likeness'' could only mean in a spiritual way. BUT ... in the very next verse, verse 27, the bible says, ''And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and FEMALE created he them.''

God created all things. The universe and all that is in it. But only man, (in this sentence ''man'' means all people) was created in the image of God. The bible DOES NOT imply that man was the only person made in God's spiritual image, man and woman was created in His image, His spiritual image.

Does this help you to understand? Understanding the bible is simple IF we study God's word, ''Study to show thyself proven unto God.'' Man and woman were created in the spiritual image of God. God does not have a human form so the scripture MUST mean in a spiritual way.

I hope this has helped.

Answer 2

We are made in Gods image both spiritual and physical.
Man was formed after the image of God and woman after the man.Both men and women are formed like God.The man thinking woman was different is out in left field.Remember we as humans have a great desire to be loved ,just as God does.You will find many of the emotions of man are the same as Gods.
Be careful about mans theory ,he should have been able to back it up by the word of God.<><

Answer 3

the bible is very complex. But for me when it says that man was created in God's image i believe it means that man has the ablity to create the way God does. This includes women as well who created and carry life in thier wombs. Man has the ability unlike any other animal to create. We create building, socities. In this sense we are like God.

We create computers and tlevision and cars. When it comes to life no other anuimal has this ability to be like god except humans.
Some peopel take this very literal and think that god had hands and a body and a face. But God woudl not need these things. God would not have to be a man nor woman because those are only earthly forms that human need in order to reproduce. God is pure energy, he is atoms, the sun, light. God is nothing like man. yet all men and women are gods.

Answer 4

This is a common misinterpretation............The verse in Genesis actually means the following:

Genesis 1:27 -- So God (of gods) created man in his (man's) own image, in the image of godS (plural) created he (God) him; male and female created he (God) them.

The reason for the real meaning is that the words "Elohym" and "Theos" mean "God of gods". Words of absolute singularity rather than any form of multiplicity. Mankind was created in the image of gods......not in the image of the one and only God. Such "gods" include angels although angels were appointed as ministering spirits from among innumerable "host" of which we know little about. Contrary to popular teaching, "angels" are immortal and not part of the creation. They have EVER existed just as God has ever existed. A vast Kingdom which has no beginning, populated by innumerable host with no beginning.

Answer 5

The literal reading from the Bible is that God fashioned man in His own image. Your analysis, taking it as a spiritual statement, might be correct, but if you are going to interpret the Bible in that regard, you must be open to interpreting it in other areas as well. Are you prepared to do that? Can you interpret the 6 days of Creation in Genesis to be something other than 24 hour days? Can you accept that the Bible might have meant tens of millions of years? Just be consistent. Some biblical scholars I have talked with do believe the Bible literally means that God fashioned man in His own image, and some take it spiritually or symbolically, as you have stated.

Answer 6

im really like this question cause i love talking about god, good things, but when they mean man was created in God's "image" theyre not saying just man was created in God's image but woMAN also. man is also referred to woman also. IMO those 2 people were just being immature and stupid cause God made everyone equal just the way he intended it to be. think about it, if man was created in God's image then who came up with the woman image? so i hope that helps.

Answer 7

Because the Bible is written by MAN not God, and it was written in a time when women were second class slaves, with no rights, no opinions, and not worthy to be included in Gods great scheme of things.
But look carefully at the answers you will receive from the liars and the nutters!
Man is made in Gods image, will be interpreted as "mankind", or, "man as in all humans", so they are NOT reading the text in the Bible, and NOT giving a TRUE answer.

Answer 8

I've understood that "made in God's image" isn't necessarily physically, because we have no idea what exactly God looks like.
It is my understanding that we (men and women) are made in God's image in the fact that we have intellect, emotion, and and will-- this is what separates us from the animals, which are also God's creation, but not made in his image.
And obviously, Jesus Christ was incarnated as a human, so perhaps in that way we are physically made in his image as well.

Answer 9

Although God the Father and His Son are males, mankind, meaning men and women, were created in their image. To be specific, it means that God and His Son are of the human race, the race of the gods, and that they have two legs, two arms, one head, with facial features most similar to a man, but also includes women in humanity concerns.

Of course, women are different physically, but they were created in God's image, which is meant to be in human form and not exactly as a man appears.

Answer 10

1. " man " is often used for meaning human. this does not mean man or woman, but in the form of a human. besides sexual organs, we are the same, for we are in the form of a " man " or a " human ". so the lady that got offended doesn't understand basics.

2. the term " God made man in his own image " refers to the human image. Not in exact detail, but as in head, heart, 2 arms, 2 legs. The original name of God in Hebrew is what they call the Tetragrammation. When you stack these 4 letters, it becomes the shape of a man, head, heart, 2 arms, 2 legs. The original name of God is also where we get what we call " music notes " from.

Here is a video to show you what I mean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfP-MxEjK_Q

The name is YHVH or YHWH or Yahweh or Yah. Hence where we also get Hallelu-Yah as well as the names from the Bible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-uq-rv4uN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4W_vEmQ03A