The Image Of God In Man -- By: Melvin W. Sullivan

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 22:1 (Spring 1979)
Article: The Image Of God In Man
Author: Melvin W. Sullivan


The Image Of God In Man

Melvin W. Sullivan

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Introduction

The very possibility of theology stems from a threefold basis according to Strong:

1. In The existence of a God who has relations to the universe; 2. In the capacity of the human mind for knowing God and certain of these relations; and 3. In the provision of means by which God is brought into actual contact with the mind or in other words, in the provision of a revelation.1

These statements are accepted as the foundation of this study but some elaboration is appropriate upon this third point. How has God given revelation or how has He made Himself and His works known to man? Revelation is customarily designated as either general or specific. General revelation is directed to man as man as an intelligent creature. It is sufficient to reveal God’s eternal power and deity to man but it is insufficient to bring him to salvation although it does render him inexcusable before God (Rom. 1:19–20). Specific revelation, however, is directed to man in his sinful and fallen state and it alone provides man with God’s plan for man’s salvation.2

Alva J. McClain has listed seven channels or sources of God’s self-revelation:

1. The material and animal creation.

2. The nature and constitution of man.

3. Direct revelation.

4. God’s mighty acts or His works of miracle and providence.

5. The lives of God’s people.

6. The Bible.

7. Jesus Christ.3

The Bible is the final authority for revelation for our dispensation and it is only through the Bible that one can be cognizant of and properly interpret the other six channels or sources of theology.4 Since God has thus revealed Himself in a limited extent in the image of God, this study will seek to understand the meaning of this phrase.

The difficulty in this study is noted by Berkouwer who states that the Bible “never gives us any kind of systematic history about man as the image of God.”5 This study cannot investigate the individual theories regarding the origin and nature of man but must of necessity be limited to available Biblical material. However, it is significant to note that even Kant re...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()