Lesson 4 of 4 · 7 min
Creation and the Image of God
Why the world exists, and why every human being carries irreducible worth.
A made world, called good
Genesis presents creation as deliberate and good — not an accident, not an emergency, not evil matter to escape. Christianity has therefore historically affirmed the body, work, marriage, food and beauty rather than despising them.
The image of God
Humans are made 'in the image of God' — imago Dei. That image has been understood as capacity for relationship, moral responsibility, creativity, and representative rule over creation. It grounds human dignity in something no circumstance can remove: not usefulness, health, intelligence or status, but the will of the Creator.
Key passages
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 8:4
For by him all things were created... all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16
Reflect
Who is easiest for you to treat as less than an image-bearer? What would change if you did not?
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Where this came from
We're not experts — these are the sources we used while researching this page. Read them yourself, keep digging, and hold us to them.
- [1]The Holy Bible — Blue Letter Bible interlinear and lexicons
Primary source for every lesson; Strong's and BDB/Thayer entries for word studies.
- [2]The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) — full text and history, Britannica
The doctrinal frame for the lessons on God, Christ and the Spirit.
- [3]N. T. Wright, lectures and articles archive (NTWrightPage)
New Testament scholarship drawn on for the gospel, kingdom and resurrection lessons.
- [4]Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican) and the Westminster Confession of Faith
Consulted side by side wherever a lesson describes how different traditions teach a doctrine.