Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God

by John F. Kilner

Overview

Misunderstandings about what it means for humans to be created in God's image have wreaked devastation throughout history — for example, slavery in the U. S., genocide in Nazi Germany, and the demeaning of women everywhere.

In Dignity and Destiny John Kilner explores what the Bible itself teaches about humanity being in God's image. He discusses in detail all of the biblical references to the image of God, interacts extensively with other work on the topic, and documents how misunderstandings of it have been so problematic.

People made according to God's image, Kilner says, have a special connection with God and are intended to be a meaningful reflection of him. Because of sin, they don't actually reflect him very well, but Kilner shows why the popular idea that sin has damaged the image of God is mistaken. He also clarifies the biblical difference between being God's image (which Christ is) and being in God's image (which humans are). He explains how humanity's creation and renewal in God's image are central, respectively, to human dignity and destiny.

Locating Christ at the center of what God's image means, Kilner charts a constructive way forward and reflects on the tremendously liberating impact that a sound understanding of the image of God can have in the world today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802867643
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	01/08/2015
Pages:	414
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Director of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity inBannockburn, Illinois.

Table of Contents

Introduction x

Part I The Human and Divine Contest

1 Much Is at Stake: The Liberation and Devastation of God's Image 3

Image-Inspired Liberation 4

Image-Inspired Devastation 17

Why Such Disagreement 37

Little Attention in the Bible 37

Little Definition in the Bible 40

Importing Theological Ideas 43

Importing Cultural Ideas 47

2 Much Is Known: Christ as God's Image 52

The Term "Image" 54

The Primary New Testament Passages 60

Christ as Enabler and Standard of God's Image 69

Part II Human Dignity

3 Humanity's Creation in God's Image 85

Who Is Identified with the Image of God 85

How People Are Related to the Image of God 88

What Creation in God's Image Is Not 94

Inadequate Assumptions 105

How People Are Excellent 106

How People Are Like God 107

How People Are Unlike Animals 109

Common Themes 112

Creation in God's Image 113

Image as Connection 116

Image as Reflection 124

4 The Impact of Sin on God's Image 134

Humanity as a Whole 133

People Experiencing New Life in Christ 141

The Undamaged Image of God 147

Images of Adam and of "Gods" 150

Contrary Voices 159

Completely Lost 160

Virtually Lost 164

Partly Lost 166

Appearance Compromised 172

Other Voices 174

Damaging God's Image 174

5 Misunderstandings about God's Image 177

Reason and God's Image 178

Righteousness and God's Image 189

Rulership and God's Image 199

Relationship and God's Image 210

A Better Understanding of Human Attributes 227

Part III Human Destiny

6 Humanity's Renewal in God's Image: Primary Voices 233

The Primary Passages 235

Romans 8 235

2 Corinthians 3 235

Colossians 3 252

The Primary Echoes 260

Ephesians 4 260

1 Corinthians 15 266

1 John 3 271

7 Humanity's Renewal in God's Image: Recurring Themes 274

Eternity and Destiny 274

People and Image 281

Connection and Reflection 281

Connection 287

Reflection in the Present 289

Reflection in the Future 299

Conclusion

Living in the Image of God 311

Being Viewed as in God's Image 313

Being Treated as in God's Image 316

Being in God's Image 323

A Better Way Forward 326

References Cited 331

Index of Names and Subjects 383

Index of Biblical Passages 396

Editorial Reviews

Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith
"An important recent study of what it means to be created in/according to God's image. . . . Deserves a wide readership."

Theological Studies
"Anyone interested in theological anthropology, interpretations of imago Dei, or theological ethics would benefit from this text."

Christine D. Pohl
— Asbury Theological Seminary
"John Kilner's comprehensive and engaging work brings fresh insight to a central but often misunderstood and misused concept. His careful biblical, theological, and moral reflection on being in the image of God is exceptional — a major contribution to the discussion."

Dennis P. Hollinger
— Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
"This masterful treatment of the image of God is not abstract theology removed from everyday reality; rather, as Kilner shows, what's at stake is human dignity in every sphere of life. A clear and cogently argued work that will become the major source for future explorations of the topic."

Sondra Wheeler
— Wesley Theological Seminary
"In this richly documented text John Kilner makes a case for the theological centrality and historical impact of the idea that humans are made in the image of God - for good but also for ill. . . . All readers will be enriched by Kilner's thoughtful argument and challenged by his exploration of the potency of an idea."

Scott B. Rae
— Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
"The most exhaustive study of the image of God of which I am aware. . . . I especially appreciate Kilner's Christological emphasis. . . . This will become the new standard reference work on the subject, particularly given its rich documentation throughout."

Brent Waters
— Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
"A masterful book on the important biblical concept of the imago Dei, which has too often received cursory treatment. The breadth and depth of Kilner's scholarship are impressive, and his carefully crafted work is simultaneously astute and engaging. . . . Students and theologians will be consulting his Dignity and Destiny for years to come."

Erin Dufault-Hunter
— Fuller Theological Seminary
"Kilner carefully demonstrates how theological convictions about the image of God matter profoundly for Christian life and witness. . . . Convincingly shows how poorly conceived or sloppy exegesis not only hampers an individual's love for God and others but also creates an ethos that reinforces broad injustices ranging from racism to disregard for those with disabilities."

Daniel R. Heimbach
— Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
"A well-analyzed, nicely written study of the single most important truth undergirding respect for human life. . . . Our society, including the church, has a spotty record dealing with moral challenges — racism, poverty, gender roles, abortion — which are skewed by distorted views of what it means for us to bear the image of God. Kilner's book gives a soundly biblical understanding that can address these shortcomings."

Themelios
"Dignity and Destiny is a masterful treatment of the imago Dei doctrine. John Kilner, in this magnum opus, advances the discussion through careful historical and biblical research on one of the most significant and complicated areas in the history of theology."

Journal of the Christian Institute on Disability
"Readers of this book should expect to be challenged. They will likely recognize ways in which they themselves have spoken about the imago Dei — ways which turn out to be inadequate, inaccurate, and (in some cases) even harmful. If taken seriously, the argument of this book has potential to catalyze a major paradigm shift in how the church thinks about, speaks of, and acts in regard to the image of God — with powerful implications for its interactions with various marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities."

Books at a Glance
"A rich treatment of the theological doctrine of what it means for all humankind to be created in, and bear, the image of God. . . . Kilner has produced a very fine, scholarly work that is quite obviously well researched, will prominently stand out in the literature on the imago Dei, and will be a valuable asset for the church."

Fred Sanders
Christianity Today
"Kilner handles the doctrine of imago Dei in a way that has been badly needed. Carefully holding the doctrine to its foundations in Scripture, he painstakingly documents a host of unwarranted extrapolations that theologians and preachers have let themselves construct. What's left after his thorough work of demolition? Plenty. The way has been cleared for the doctrine of the image of God to help guide our thinking about human nature."

Midwest Book Review
"A powerful survey that will attract theologians and Christian readers interested in philosophical and spiritual reflection."

From the Publisher