Charles Hunter Draft 1
Essay 1 09/20/2011
One great question is posed to every single person on earth. What does it mean to be human? Narrowing this question down further to Christians leads to the next question. What does it mean to be human, made in the image of God? There is no one solution to this question, but instead there are several smaller answers. When these answers are added together a clearer image of what humanity made in the image of God means. Human beings are meant to reflect the image and likeness of God. Through God, humans were granted freedom and with this freedom they are truly capable of fulfilling their humanity and reflecting God. What it means to be a human being made in the image of God is that they follow the example of Christ and most importantly live as beings of love. “The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.”1 This passage is the basis for the whole question of humanity created in the image of God. Man is formed by God from the earth. Joseph Ratzinger expresses the humbling feeling that comes from knowing that humanity is formed from the earth. “You are not God, you did not make yourself, and you do not rule the universe; you are limited. You are a being destined for death, as are all things living; you are only earth.” 2 This is a humbling feeling because the entire scope of humanity is put into perspective. Life is summed up in one short sentence. You are made from one earth and will return to the one earth. This is a major factor which unites all of humanity together. The earthly nature of human beings is just one side of the story, however. The other side of the story of the meaning of humanity created in the image of God is the divine likeness. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created
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Genesis 2:7 Ratzinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being (Grand Rapids: WB Eerdmans, 1995) Pg 43.
Charles Hunter Draft 1
Essay 1 09/20/2011
them.”3 This passage from the first story of creation in Genesis once again emphasizes the creation of humanity in God’s image, but also states that man was created in the divine image as well. Joseph Ratzinger sums up the meaning of this passage in one short sentence. “In the human being heaven and earth touch one another.”4 Human beings are earthly and divine. This divinity was granted to human beings when the breath of life from God was breathed into the man’s nostrils during the second story of creation. The grace of God was included in the breath and transferred over in the action. Through creation and the gift of grace, humanity is God’s doing and human beings are God’s people and belong to God. Through God’s grace, humanity was granted freedom. Freedom has allowed humanity to choose and shape the meaning of their existence. In Genesis 3, and 7 this freedom has led to the fall and destruction of humanity. Freedom has also led to a growth of humanity and a moral freedom; it is essentially important for what is considered a human being. Freedom plays an important role in human nature and its potential for holiness and sin. Humans are naturally born to be good. Through their interactions with the world and other human beings, the sin inside is brought out. Freedom allows human beings to make these choices and decide to follow God and his teachings. People are born with original sin from the fall of man, but this does not mean that humans will do evil and sin without provocation. The potential for holiness of human beings is ever present. The grace which was gifted to humanity through the breath of life unlocks the potential for holiness. Striving to achieve holiness is the best way for human beings to nourish the divinity granted to them through God. Freedom allows human beings to choose to fulfill this potential or avoid it, just as in human nature.
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Genesis 1:27 Ratzinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being, pg. 44
Charles Hunter Draft 1
Essay 1 09/20/2011
There are several other factors which have to be added on to those already discussed earlier to complete the understanding of what humanity, in the image of God, means. “The essence of an image consists in the fact that it represents something.”5 Humanity is an image of God and thus is a representation of God. Humanity is supposed to imitate God’s teachings. In order to accomplish this, humans need to overcome original sin, go beyond themselves, and remain open to God. “Thus the image of God means, first of all, that human beings cannot be closed in on themselves.”6 Ratzinger is implying that humans need to be social creatures to live as an image of God. Human beings are meant to create relationships with one another and relate to each other. Humanity is separated from all of what God created. Humans are capable of addressing God and distinguishing themselves. The ability to think is what sets humanity apart. “They are most profoundly themselves when they discover their relation to their Creator.”7 Praying and understanding God, Christ, and their message leads humanity toward ultimate understanding of themselves. What is the foundation behind the most important factor in living as humans, made in the image of God. Love is the most important factor in what it means to be human, made in the image of God. Love includes everything previously mentioned: freedom, relationship, human nature, and divinity. “Therefore the image of God also means that human persons are beings of word and of love, beings moving toward Another, oriented to giving themselves to the Other and only truly receiving themselves back in real self-giving.”8 Love is the connection between all human beings and God. God has shown humanity love since creation. Humanity has been cared for, blessed,
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Ratzinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being, Pg. 47 Ratzinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being, Pg. 47 7 Ratzinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being, Pg. 48 8 Ratzinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being, Pg. 48 6
Charles Hunter Draft 1
Essay 1 09/20/2011
guided, and nourished, all in God’s love. Reenacting this selfless love is the meaning behind humanity. Showing love applies not just to God, but also to all human beings. The ultimate gift of love from God is also the greatest example for humanity to follow of what it means to be human. This ultimate gift is God’s son, Christ. The New Testament of the Bible tells the life story of Jesus Christ. He is essentially the perfect example of humanity. Jesus is divine in nature, but also had a human side on earth. Joseph Ratzinger describes Christ by saying, “He is the definitive human being, and creation is, as it were, a preliminary sketch that points to him.”9 Christ is described as the first true example of humanity. Christ fulfilled his calling by dying for humanity and thus grace was spread throughout the earth. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, humanity was given the potential to obtain holiness. “Human beings must die with Christ like a grain of wheat in order truly to rise, to stand erect, to be themselves.”10 The paraphrase, from John 12:24, means that through the death of sin Jesus, God, and true understanding will finally be accessible. What does it mean to be a human, made in the image of God? Several solutions are added together to produce an answer to this question. Through love and freedom, the natural tendency to sin in human nature is conquered and the potential for holiness is fulfilled. Christ is the ultimate example of humanity in God’s image and words. Grace and the Holy Spirit unlock the ability for humans to fully understand themselves. By following His example, human beings are able to fully understand the true meaning behind what it is to be made in the image of God. Selfless love of others and self-giving truly reflect human beings in the image of God.
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Ratzinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being, Pg. 48 Razinger, Joseph, The Creation of the Human Being, Pg. 49
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