What is the Image of God?

There are four primary interpretations of the image of God in Genesis 1:26–27: the substantive view sees the image in humanity’s rational, moral, and self-aware inner nature; the physical view understands the image as a bodily resemblance to God but raises theological questions, particularly regarding the Trinity; the functional view defines the image in terms of humanity’s role as God’s representative rulers tasked with exercising dominion and spreading creation’s order; and the relational view identifies the image with humanity’s unique capacity for relationship with God and others, especially within the broader narrative of Genesis 1–3. Each view has strengths and weaknesses, with the functional view best suited to the immediate context of Genesis 1, the relational view drawing on the wider narrative, and the substantive view raising questions about its applicability to all humans. While the physical view raises doctrinal concerns, these interpretations are not necessarily mutually exclusive; together, they may contribute to a fuller understanding of the concept.