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Mark asks: “What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Is it equality?”

Being created in the image of God does not mean equality with God. I have not studied how the original audience would have understood this which I believe would be key. I suspect, however, they would have understood it in relation to what closely follows which was humanity was created in the image and likeness of God, and together as partners male and female were to subdue the earth. To be good stewards of God’s creation in fulfilling this task would require the capacity for complex language, cognition, creativity, etc. Additionally, created for relationship with God and with each other, male and female created in the likeness of God would have to include the capacity for love and communion. This is not intended to be exhaustive.

Answers to other questions are forth coming.