There's this thread:
Peter Gentry on the image of God
where I gave a somewhat hesitant critique of the view that Man is the imago dei at least in part because God has set him up in the earth the way that the idolatrous kings (pharaohs?) of Moses' day set up their "image" to send a message about their sovereignty.

Hesitant, because I thought I might be extrapolating a bit on a snippet of a larger article.

Still, I think at best this illustration probably should only be used, by way of comparison, at the level of application.


I actually am partial to the covenant-treaty idea, although I'm happy to say that once about 20 years ago I was positively enamored with it, and am no longer. My take goes like this: God sets up original covenants with men. This fixes an ideological element in men's minds, and perhaps even something like a "form". Men develop the idea or form recreatively. The prevalent "form" of the ANE Hittites is found providentially to be a very suitable paradigm for later institutions of divine covenant, e.g. with Abraham.


On the subject of Logos, again I agree that John probably chose a term he knew was philosophical currency in the 1st century. But unless one starts redefining it right away in biblical categories, he will go off track just as quickly. Jesus is the Logos as the epitome of Word-revelation. An incarnate "Thus saith the Lord God Almighty." And not an emanation of divinity, nor an ideal "form", nor a respirating Syllogism.

John shows us that it is legitimate to borrow or appropriate the tools of the world for communicating truth, provided we prioritize revelation, and bound the discussion properly. Paul did something similar probably many places, but notably (in Scripture) in Athens.

__________________
Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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