The Image of God

This book uses the imago Dei ('the image of God') as an organizing principle for a systematic treatment of Old Testament theology. This concept challenges humanity to resemble or reflect the communicable attributes of God, such as love, compassion, rationality, and creativity. Exodus 34:6-8 helps the biblical reader to discern in whose image we have been made. This concept also serves as the basis for God's invitation, covenant, redemption, community, worship, and wisdom are keys to understanding the divine-human relationship. This concept also calls humanity to represent divine concerns by extending his compassion to the socially disadvantaged, the physically challenged, and the spiritually estranged. The New Testament's portrait of Jesus echoes these concerns: He is the image of the invisible God; He enables his followers to come near to God; and He represents the concerns of God's kingdom.