Made For Mission: Imaging God

This week, we begin a new series on God’s mission. As we move forward into a new era as a church, it is vital that we understand our identity as coworkers in God’s plan for the world. Knowing who we are as God’s image-bearers will define our role and teach us how we are to cooperate with what God wants to accomplish in and through us. Becoming familiar with God’s purposes as they are laid out in the Bible not only lays a foundation for where we have come from, it also propels us forward into the future. Knowing God’s mission brings real and lasting meaning to our lives. When we join with God and with others who also follow Him, we begin to see clearly our destination and goal, which is eternal communion with God and one another in heaven where we will worship God and finally fulfill our destiny as His image-bearers.

How to Use This Guide 

Thank you for taking the time to do this Bible study. When we dig deeper into God’s word, He promises to bless us. We follow in the footsteps of King David, who wrote in Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

This guide will provide a weekly framework for spiritual conversations with friends or family. We encourage you to reach out to a friend or two, pick a time to get together each week, and work through this guide together. This Bible study can also be a good tool for families, perhaps coordinated with mealtimes.

What does the Bible say?

Read Genesis 1:26-28.

This week, we’re going to do something a bit different and take in this passage from a different angle. Genesis is the first book of five (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) in our English Bibles. Our English text was translated from the Hebrew language. But, there is an important parallel translation that can shed additional light on how we understand Genesis and what it teaches. This is a translation of our Bibles that the Apostle Paul relied heavily upon. So, it can be helpful for us as well. Many Jewish people migrated away from the land of Israel into other areas in the Mediterranean basin and assimilated into their new countries. In these places, Jews learned to speak the common language, which was Greek. In order to make sure the people of God could still have access to their holy Scriptures from God, a group of scholars translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek. One of the advantages of looking at Genesis 1:26-28 in Greek is that we can compare the Greek words that are used in these verses with the same words in our New Testament, which was originally written in Greek. 

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Then God said, “Let us make ______…”

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What did God make? The word in the Greek translation is anthrōpos. In our English Bibles, anthrōpos in Genesis 1:26 may be translated as “man” (KJV, ESV, NASB 1995, NKJV), “humanity” (CEB), “human beings” (MSG, NLT), “mankind” (NIV, NASB 2020), “humankind” (NET), and “humans” (NRSVUE). Which English translation best reflects anthrōpos? 

In both Genesis 1:26 and 1:28, anthrōpos is in the singular. This can mean one person, but it can also mean humanity as a whole. We know from Genesis 1:28, that God means two people. This is why “mankind” is an accurate translation. To support this decision, we can note that God’s commands in these verses are addressed in the plural (e.g., “they,” “them”). Specifically, God is speaking to the humans He created, the man and the woman (see Genesis 1:27). Some English Bibles translate anthrōpos as “humanity” or “humankind.” Do you think there is any benefit to translating anthrōpos with these words? 

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…in His own _______, in the ________ of God…

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In the Hebrew language, the same word fills the two blanks above. It is translated as “image” in our English Bibles. 

In Greek, there are two different words. Why the translators decided two words were needed whereas only one was needed in the Hebrew is not clear. Translating involves an awareness of how language is used in the current culture. Above all, the text must be understood by the people reading it. There must have been some reason that two Greek words conveyed the Hebrew idea of “image” best. 

The first blank above is filled in with the Greek word īkōn. You’ll notice that it looks like and sounds similar to our English word, “icon.” An īkōn can be an object shaped to resemble the form or appearance of something. Jesus uses this same word to describe the head of Ceasar on one side of a denarius coin (Matthew 22:20; Mark 12:16; Luke 20:24). Paul uses īkōn to describe idols that were made to look like a mortal human being, birds, animals, and reptiles and worshiped (Romans 1:23). Paul also uses īkōn when he speaks about Christ-followers being conformed to the “image” of Jesus through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:10). The New Testament also tells us that Jesus is the īkōn of God in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Colossians 1:15. 

The second blank above is filled with the Greek word homoiōsis. This word reflects the state of being similar. There is a likeness and a resemblance. James uses this same word to ask why we would praise God with our tongue, but curse human beings, who have been made in God’s homoiōsis. 

To fully understand what it means for human beings to be made in and to reflect the image of God, we cannot look at ourselves, we must look to Jesus. Jesus is God in human form. He is the īkōn of God and the only One who truly reflects His homoiōs. We have learned that this was the original design for all human beings. But, as you can read about in Genesis 3, the first humans disobeyed God, and their ability to reflect Him was marred and broken. So, learning about Jesus, the way He acted and spoke, this is our template. He is our example. 

In Genesis 1:28, God blessed the man and woman He created in His image. The Greek word for “bless” is eulogeo. At first glance, you can see that this is where we get the English word “eulogy” from. To bless means to speak a good word, to bestow a favor, provide with benefits. In this case, the benefits come in the form of commands. What are the five words that God uses in Genesis 1:28 to explain what He wants the two humans to do? 

1. auksanō

This word means to grow. This word is used to describe how Jesus “grew” as a child (Luke 2:40). There are also the wildflowers that “grow” (Luke 2:40) and also the “growth” that the Body of Christ or the church can enjoy. 

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2. plāthunõ

This word means to increase greatly in number or extent. In Acts 6:7, the number of disciples in Jerusalem “grew larger and larger.” Also, the word of God increased and multiplied, according to Acts 12:24. This meant that more and more people were spreading the good news of Jesus and people were believing in Him.

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3. plāroõ

This word is attached to the next two words. The humans were to plāroõ the earth. There is a sense of fulfilling some purpose. As a result of the growing, increasing, and multiplying, the two were to fill the earth. In the New Testament, this word is used to speak of the fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew 1:22), or a promise (Acts 13:33).

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4. katakuriūō

This words means to rule or reign over something. In this case, it is the earth. In the New Testament, this same word is used to describe the “reign” that kings of the world have over nations and people (Luke 22:25; Matthew 20:25). 

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5. archõ

This word also means to rule or govern, but with the implication of preeminent position and status. In Genesis 1:28, what were the first human beings supposed to rule over on the earth. This same word is used in Romans 15:12 to convey the rule that Jesus would administer over the nations.

Perhaps you can take time to reflect on what these words mean and apply them to your life. Genesis 1:26-28 is a foundational passage. In it, we see our true purpose and can grasp what it is we are to do with our lives. How does your life reflect your Maker? How are you contributing to the growth and health of the people of God in the world today. Each one of us can help the Church grow, multiply, and fill the earth. We can also submit ourselves to the ultimate image of God, Jesus Christ, and work under His reign over our lives. This will look different for each person. The question before you today is this: Are you willing to give your life to Jesus and join Him in His mission to redeem a people from all peoples? 

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Prayer: We worship You, God as Creator of everything. You made the Universe and everything in it and declared it good. Humanity, the apex of His artistry, is made in Your image. We want to cooperate with your perfect design and reflect Your glory to the world. Amen.