Ask Mr. Religion
Flatly Unflappable
Interesting take on the Hebrew word, Elohim:
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has there been a general consensus on if the "In our own Image" by God referred to speaking within the trinity themselves, or God addressing the assembled Angelic hosts there?Yeah, I don't buy it. It is interesting. However, Hebrew is not pictographic, like Egyptian or Chinese, as Bill pointed out. What is in view in Genesis 1 is the almighty creative (ex nihilo) power of God that comes through His speech. The Trinity is present in Genesis 1, but more through the speech of God (via John 1), and the Spirit of Genesis 1:2, as well as the plural of "our likeness" in 1:26. It is not through the plural form of "elohim," either, in my opinion. The plural "im" ending is something that countless nouns have in common with "elohim." Therefore, at the very least, the marker for the plural cannot mean what the video says it means. Nowhere do we have such an explanation for the meaning of "elohim" in Scripture. I much prefer contextual derivations of meaning for the term, rather than this sort of thing.
David, in order for the angelic host to be addressed by the word "our," Adam and Eve would have to have been made in the image of the angels, and not just of God. This is highly unlikely. Humanity is not made in the image of angels, only of God.
Would not the angels also be made in the image of God also? I say this in that angels, like Adam, also have the same moral qualities.
I would be careful about that. There is something distinct about man in creation.
First, Gen. 1 tells us that God said, "Let us make man in our image...." Nothing like that is said about any other creature.
Second, man and angels are expressly distinct in nature. Hebrews 2:16 speaks of Christ: "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. "
Psalm 8, likewise, shows a distinction and that man is a special case--made a little lower than the angels, yet crowned with glory and honor.
One other thing, who are we to judge angels but for some special quality given to us by God? (1 Cor. 6:3).
Can we at least agree angels are indeed rational sentient moral beings unlike dogs who are not capable of making moral choices.
My understanding of being made in Image of God refers to Humans being able to have a spiritual relationship to their Creator, to being able to exercise thoughts, feelings, to know that we exist and are alive in a sense animals cannot do.I don't want to derail too far into another topic, but I'm not sure we can agree on that, Earl. And I'm not really kidding, either.
I've trained cow dogs, among other dogs. I've seen dogs perceive things or feel things, so they fall within the definition of "sentient." I've also seen some of my cow dogs extrapolate from prior experience to adapt to a new set of conditions. To some extent, it looks like a form of reasoning.
Plus, my dogs have often demonstrated a sense of having done wrong. They know when they have "sinned." A well trained dog wants to do what is "right", what pleases his master, and that implies some sense of moral order.
I know, my view might be over-the-top to some, but I don't place the image-of-God quality in the realm of sensation or rationality. Instead, I think it falls somewhere in the realm of self-reflection, which is a higher order of awareness than mere reason and sense.
In other words, dogs or other animals do not contemplate their existence and consider that they are fearfully and wonderfully made (by something beyond themselves).
And, frankly, I don't know if angels have that capacity, either. The good angels are certainly obedient, intelligent, and strong. But are these qualities a result of their created nature or because they have an image of God? All I can say is that angels are intensely interested in the workings of God on his people, and in people's response to their God. (1 Peter 1:12; 1 Corinthian's 11:10). They are inquisitive about things that we too often take for granted.
I don't want to derail too far into another topic, but I'm not sure we can agree on that, Earl. And I'm not really kidding, either.