God created humans in his likeness and image. Does that mean God has form?

Question

And this form is a human form? Should this be interpreted figuratively (like most things in the Bible) rather than literally?

Esther, I don't think you understand my question. Before humans were "created", is God's primary form a human form? Does this mean he used his form as a template for humans which he then "created". I want to know what the popular theory is.

Answer 1

That's kind of begging the question, who picked god's image? Or, how did god pick his image?

Obviously such a concept cannot be accepted as a literal truth, or we would all look and act exactly like god, or Jesus, or whatever. Sure, we can use the 'Fall of Man' as an excuse, but that's just logical fallacy anyway...

And, by the by, if god has a form, how come we can't measure it using thermodynamics? How come we can't adapt the laws of science to include such a omnipotent 'energy'?

Answer 2

Both the Bible and good philosophy report that God is non-physical - spirit. In John 4:24 it is said that God is spirit (see also Luke 24:39; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17). This is why no material thing was to be used to represent God (Exodus 20:4). But this can also be shown by reflecting on what God is. Philosophically the same truth comes through. All that is created is necessarily finite and limited. But the first cause (God) is uncreated, and therefore must be non-finite, or infinite. That which is beyond the finite must, by definition, be infinite, and the Bible states that God is beyond creation (1 Kings 8:27; Job 11:7-9; Isaiah 66:1-2; Colossians 1:17). That which is physical cannot be infinite - for you cannot add finite parts together until they reach infinity. Therefore God is spirit as opposed to physical/material in His Being. This does not mean He cannot localize a physical appearance. God is not composed of matter nor any other imaginable substance. He also cannot be measured, is not spatial, and has no true location (presence is a different concept).

Answer 3

The Bible says God is spirit. God is love. God is holy. He is everywhere at the same time, all powerful and all knowing-past, present and future. When God said,"Let us make man in our image." He meant with the capacity to commune with Him-that's what separates us from the animals that He created first. He wanted a being that would be able to think, reason, love and create-like Him. The "us" that He was talking about is the trinity. And yes, He did walk the earth as a man-Jesus! Blows my mind. I need to change my ways. How lucky that we have a good God. I don't think He used his form to make man as a template. He used the apes as a template for man. And I have no problem with that. Evolution is nothing more than the process of man's creation. He didn't twitch His nose like Bewitched and make a man. But He did put eyes on almost all creatures and similarities are abundant. But, there are angels in Heaven that are full of eyes-Revelation. So I believe He had a general template for all creatures with varying degrees of difference. Spitchus is right on-way to go. I heard that philosophical argument once before. Sooner or later, all created things have to come from a creator.

Answer 4

I've thought about this quite alot and came up with a solution. Draw a circle, put a dot in the middle.

The symbol for the sun (or primary god of many religons) is a circle or ring with a dot in it in many written languages. It is also a crude drawing of a hydrogen and helium atom, the two chemicals that comprise the sun.

If you thought about it the symbol could be a crude drawing of all atoms the dot being the neucleus and the outer ring any number of electrons.

If God looks like this, then so do we all. But the chair I sit on and the birds outside my window, and all creation was made in the same image.
I personally find comfort inthis thought.

Answer 5

The point is a being who communicates with God and who lives forever.

God had the first image, both invisable and visable from eternity. Every thing He wants to behave with a spiritual understanding was originally created after His image in that sense. See Colossians 1.14

But the point is mainly as the bible says, a born again person (become spiritually alive again through Christ) is this:

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Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Answer 6

If god created us in his image, then what likeness did he create the zebras and lizards and fish from? Another question that would get you kicked out of sunday school.

What I want to know is how come God created earth in 7 days then sat back and watched it for the next 6 BILLION YEARS!! Must have been pretty fascinating... really. Any kind of puzzle that takes me a week to solve is going to be in the garbage just a few days later. Especially since He is all knowing and knows the future and stuff.

And if God knows the future, then he knows what you will pray for and whether he will grant your prayers even before you pray for it... so what was your question again?

Answer 7

In Aristotle's theory of The Forms, the answer would be yes. Human form is just a reflection or shadow of The Forms from the heavens.

Answer 8

I personally interpret this as literal. How could we be in His image if He does not have physical form? Besides, I believe He has a physical body. Some people on here may think I'm crazy...and that's OK, but that's what I believe. And last time I checked, we have freedom of religion in the USA and this is how I choose to believe.

Answer 9

precisely precise, simply by fact Jesus taught that the father is the only real God-John 17:a million-6) and that call in 6 is Jehovah. So it incredibly is certainty persons-- the two the trinity coaching is a lie out of mistranslated bibles from centuries in the past--or Jesus lied at John 17:a million-6--- all of us could make the determination of who we can have faith--Jesus or a lie. the two won't be able to be maximum appropriate and there are not the different possibilities easily.

Answer 10

God has a form according to the ancient Vedas as well. Krishna is Gods original Name and Form It is described in great detail in the Bhagavad Gita and srimadbhagavatam. His form is unlimited, eternal and supremely beautiful, and not made of any material elements. Though two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, a mouth, nose, torso etc. God can do anything with any of His body parts. IE see with his ears, taste with his eyes. etc. For info go to asitis.com read Bhagavad Gita as it is By Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada- tells all.