So God created the human being in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The Book of Genesis

In The Image Of God

Topic: Divine Love & Goodness

So God created the human being in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Judaism and Christianity
The Book of Genesis

Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture - a Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. Paragon House, 1991, pp. 116, 193 [Genesis 1.27].

About This Passage From Genesis In Light of Our Theme: “Divine Father and Mother”

The passage from Genesis offers us a compelling lens through which to understand the inclusive nature of the Divine. The Hebrew term “adam” is defined as a representation of all humanity, both male and female. In this light, the concept of being made in the “image and likeness” of God is a shared experience, transcending the limitations of gender. This resonates with Maryanne Cline Horowitz’s insights, emphasizing that men and women share a universal human dignity that stems from their common origin in the Divine.

The text also encourages us to examine the responsibilities that come with our creation in God’s image, specifically, “dominion” over the Earth. This is a shared task for all of humanity, devoid of gender bias, asking us to steward the world with care and wisdom. This idea aligns with our theme of “Divine Father and Mother,” suggesting that both paternal and maternal attributes are essential for the balanced and compassionate exercise of this responsibility. Just as the Divine encompasses qualities we may categorize as masculine and feminine, so too should our approach to stewardship embody a complete range of human virtues.

This biblical narrative invites us to rise above socially constructed gender roles and biases, as it points to a more foundational truth. Our essence is carved from the Divine, an entity that defies human categorization and embraces a spectrum of qualities. This understanding can enrich our relationships with each other and with the Divine, reinforcing the notion that the path to spiritual growth and understanding is one that can be walked side by side, irrespective of gender. It nudges us to explore how the “Divine Father and Mother” manifest within us, guiding us toward a more balanced, inclusive, and dignified way of being.

The Image of God in Man—Is Woman Included?

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind (adam) in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion….’ And God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Gen 1:26-27 clarifies that the Hebrew term adam stands for the generic species of humanity which is composed of men and women. If there is any doubt in this interpretation, Gen 5:2-3 declares and defines again: “When God created humankind, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them humankind when they were created.” The “image of God in man and woman” opens us to transcend both the masculine and feminine metaphors for God which abound in the Bible and to transcend our historical selves and social institutions in recognition of the Holy One. It would appear that whatever one’s interpretation of the “image” and “likeness” of God, one would have to recognize that the biblical text makes explicit that in our resemblance to the Divinity and in our dominion over the earth and animals, men and women share a common human dignity.”

—Horowitz, Maryanne Cline. “The Image of God in Man—Is Woman Included?” Harvard Theological Review, vol. 72, no. 3-4, 1979, pp. 175–206.

In her article “The Image of God in Man—Is Woman Included?” Maryanne Cline Horowitz delves into the Hebrew term “adam,” clarifying that it represents all of humanity, both male and female. By examining scriptural references, she expands the understanding of the “image and likeness” of God to encompass both genders, thereby broadening the notion of the “Divine Father and Mother.” Her work underscores that the Biblical texts establish a foundation for a universal human dignity, rooted in a shared relationship with the Divine, encouraging us to transcend socially constructed roles and recognize the unconditional love that characterizes the nature of God.

Resources

Maryanne Cline Horowitz - “The Image of God in Man—Is Woman Included?” Harvard Theological Review

In The Image Of God

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