Made to be stewards

The function of man

In the twentieth century theologians began to challenge the ontological view, or what we might call ‘the attributes of God’, as what’s meant by being created in his image. They argued that Imago Dei is more about the function of humans, what we’re made to do, rather than what we are or what attributes we display. This view sees humankind as agents or representatives of God rather than sharing his attributes. For convenience I’ve called this the functional view. This view, however, is really more about what we do as people made in God’s likeness, and in my view it would be a mistake to see it as an alternative meaning of Imago Dei. It does not replace the understanding that we’ve so far explored of what being made in his image or likeness means. Rather, as we shall see, it complements the ontological view and provides the impetus for reflecting God’s image and lays a responsibility on us to do so.

To have dominion

The functional role rests on an alternative translation of Genesis 1:26, ‘let us make humanity as our image’, but it’s also supported by the second part of Genesis 1:26, where God says, ‘And let them have dominion’. This verse is essentially saying that humans are to have dominion over all that he has created, whether living or non- living. This view of Imago Dei is one of humankind being delegated by God to oversee his creation as his vicegerent.

Vicegerents

The idea of being a vicegerent comes from the ancient rule of kings over their kingdom and people, with the vicegerent being appointed to co-govern or rule. In ancient times a king might have had statues (icons) erected to remind his subjects who was king and lord over them. In ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian texts kings were seen as sons of gods and therefore being in god’s image. This is an interesting motif when we consider the biblical texts that also speak of Adam’s being a ‘son of God’ (Luke 3:38). Being in God’s image carries with it the idea of sonship and sons representing our Father on earth in his cosmic temple.

This idea of image bearing or of being ‘icons’ of God in his creation is a powerful one, especially in the context of thinking about ways our image bearing might be tarnished by the use of AI technology.

Responsibility to work

The functional view of being made in God’s image goes beyond the idea of being an icon, something that should look like the one it represents. To exercise dominion over God’s creation is not a passive thing. It carries with it the responsibility to work and be creative: we see that even before the fall God put humans in a garden to till and keep it.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Genesis 2:15

The ESV Bible

Complimenting the ontological view

The functional view of Imago Dei emphasizes the purpose for which we’re made: humanity’s function. Rather than standing opposed to the ontological view that we share some of the attributes of God, it underscores our need to ensure that we reflect those attributes, that image. The icon bears witness to the one whom it represents. Going further, the vicegerent has a responsibility to function in a way consistent with the nature of our creator, whose image we bear.

References

T. D. Alexander and D. W. Baker, Dictionary of the Old Testament, Pentateuch (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press; Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 2003), pp. 443–444.

For an extended treatment of this view see J. R. Middleton, The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1 (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2005).