Image of God vs. Likeness of God

[CatholicSoxFan]

I’m listening to Craig’s defenders’ class, and on the section of the Doctrine of Man, Craig mentioned that the Catholic view of the imago dei is that the image of God and the likeness of God are distinct. How are they distinct?

 

[dmar198]

I’m listening to Craig’s defenders’ class, and on the section of the Doctrine of Man, Craig mentioned that the Catholic view of the imago dei is that the image of God and the likeness of God are distinct. How are they distinct?

I can’t offer you much right now, but two thoughts come to mind. First, I don’t really think there is any official Catholic doctrine on this point. Second, I think I heard that St Augustine once said that, when man committed the original sin, he lost the likeness of God, but not the image of God.

 

[GEddie]

Can’t help you, but will follow the thread to see what comes up.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[chefmomster2]

"Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. (Genesis 1:26)

There is a note to this verse from the NABRE.

“image” and “likeness” (virtually synonyms) express the worth of human beings who have value in themselves (human blood may not be shed in 9:6 because of this image of God) and in their task, dominion (1:28), which promotes the rule of God over the universe.

There is also writing on this topic by Ignatius.

newadvent.org/summa/1093.htm#article9

Reply to Objection 1. “Likeness” is not distinct from “image” in the general notion of “likeness” (for thus it is included in “image”); but so far as any “likeness” falls short of “image,” or again, as it perfects the idea of “image.”

Reply to Objection 2. The soul’s essence belongs to the “image,” as representing the Divine Essence in those things which belong to the intellectual nature; but not in those conditions subsequent to general notions of being, such as simplicity and indissolubility.

Reply to Objection 3. Even certain virtues are natural to the soul, at least, in their seeds, by reason of which we may say that a natural “likeness” exists in the soul. Nor it is unfitting to us the term “image” from one point of view and from another the term “likeness.”

Reply to Objection 4. Love of the word, which is knowledge loved, belongs to the nature of “image”; but love of virtue belongs to “likeness,” as virtue itself belongs to likeness.

 

[grannymh]

I’m listening to Craig’s defenders’ class, and on the section of the Doctrine of Man, Craig mentioned that the Catholic view of the imago dei is that the image of God and the likeness of God are distinct. How are they distinct?

The way to figure this out for yourself is to discern what the image or likeness actually refers to given your own human nature.