The Biblical Role of the Pastor's wife - South African Theological ...

3.1.1 Created in the Image of God: Genesis 1:26-27
The climax of creation came on the sixth day as God created
humankind, “…male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). Genesis 1:26
and 27 has been analysed and dissected extensively. Many scholars have
deliberated over the concept of being created in God’s image or in His
likeness. What does it mean to bear the image of God, to be created in His
likeness? The importance of this phrase, in my opinion, exists in that God
created humankind to bear His image, causing us to acknowledge, even on
the most minuscule of levels, His existence (Rom. 1:20; 2 Cor. 5:21, Eph.
4:24). Shelley (1988:5) indicates that God’s image does not refer to anything
physical, buy rather to humanity’s spiritual nature.
Frame (1991:227) points out that both men and women are created in
God’s image. He identifies that humankind resembles and represents the
God. He (p. 230) explains that humankind represents God in the world and is
under His Lordship exercising “control, authority, and presence in His name.”
He concludes that men and women equally bear the image of God “in their
sexual differences, even in their differences with regard to authority and
submission.” Sailhamer (1994:13) shares the view of Frame; he says that,
“The creation of humankind is specifically noted as a creation of ‘male and
female,’ stressing the fact that God created ‘man’ as ‘male and female.’” He
(p. 14) suggests that God is creating a home suitable for humankind,
speaking into existence the world, the light, day, night and all living things
prior to creating humankind, emphasises the significance of man as the only
creature created to bear God’s image. This insight is important in the
understanding that humankind is identified as ‘special’, a unique part of
creation. Woman in and of herself is a specially created being.
God gives human beings purpose in Genesis 1:26 by commanding
them to “rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the
livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the
ground.” Humankind was the only creation that was to bear God’s image, to
represent and be most like Him. God gave the command to be fruitful and to
rule over every living creature. He gave food to His creation and saw that
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