Image of God
Every human bears the imprint of the Maker — the root of human dignity
The image of God, or imago Dei, is the teaching that humanity is created in God's image and likeness, as stated in Genesis 1:26. This grounds the dignity belonging to every human being. Irenaeus, among the early Fathers, distinguished between the image and the likeness of God in human nature. Across Christian traditions the conviction endures that the human person reflects something of the Creator.
How it traveled
- 1 CorinthiansEphesus · 67applies
- RomansCorinth · 67applies
- HebrewsRome · 67explains
- ColossiansRome · 67explains
- MatthewAntioch · 80explains
- LukeRome · 84applies
- ActsRome · 84explains
- 1 JohnEphesus · 100explains
- Epistle to the Magnesians: Shorter and Longer VersionsAntioch · 108explains
- Dialogue with TryphoRome · 165applies
- Against Heresies: Book VLyons · 202explains
- Against Heresies: Book IVLyons · 202explains
- Against Heresies: Book IIILyons · 202explains
- Exhortation to the HeathenAlexandria · 215explains
- A Treatise on the Soul.— · 220explains
- On the Resurrection of the Flesh.— · 220explains
- Address to the Greeks— · 220explains
- The Shows, or De Spectaculis.— · 220explains
- The Octavius of Minucius Felix.Rome · 250explains
- The Treatises of Cyprian.Carthage · 258explains
- From the Discourse on the Resurrection.— · 311explains
- On the Workmanship of God, or the Formation of Man— · 325explains
- A Treatise on the Anger of God Addressed to Donatus— · 325explains
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- Aphrahat: Select DemonstrationsMosul · 345explains
- The Incarnation of the WordAlexandria · 373explains
- Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Ephraim Syrus: Fifteen Hymns For the Feast of the EpiphanyEdessa · 373explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373explains
Key passages(20)
On the Making of Man · Gregory of Nyssa
Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Seventeen Occasional Sermons · Jonathan Edwards
Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas
On the Holy Trinity · Augustine of Hippo
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards
A Treatise on the Anger of God Addressed to Donatus · Lactantius
Against Heresies: Book IV · Irenaeus of Lyons
Against Heresies: Book V · Irenaeus of Lyons
Against Heresies: Book V · Irenaeus of Lyons
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin