B
BrunoMaria
Guest
I transferred meanings of this topic
http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=10419247#post10419247
to here
because it went off topic with “the image of God”
I’m convinced that we PHYSICALLY and not just in a little way SPIRITUALLY are in the likeness of God. Now, in private Mails I was reminded at these two sides who are supposed to contradict this:
http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/human.htm
and
http://www.saintpetercatholic.com/qa_image_of_god.html
Though both links where not REALLY helpful in this question, for both don’t clearly say, that God does NOT look like Jesus did on earth. Nor does the Bible. Vice versa the Bible tells us on several places, that we are created in God’s likeness, and the Bible does not say “spiritually only” otherwise we look entirely different. No way - for this would contradict Genesis 1,27.
But let’s have a look into the Catechism this great tool and help in all questions of belief. Here is a much clearer statement on this - under number 355 up to 360 where is tells, that St. Paul said we originate of two: Of Adam and of Jesus Christ (remember that Jesus Christ was long before Adam (which He stated by mentioning Abraham).
Referring to the mentioned article here the one and only relevant thing is: >he is “in the image of God”. When God lets us read in the Bible that He made us in His image, we might relay on this literally. Ever more so, since Jesus said to Philippus in Joh 14,8-11, as Philippus asks Jesus to show us God the Father, that when we saw Jesus, we saw the Father. So, since Jesus was a person as we are (besides of course being fully God too), the conclusion is obvious - WE ARE IN GOD’S LIKENESS - and let me add: SO VICE VERSA.
Now, the obvious controversy in this matter is that many presume, that
The image and likeness of God refers to our spiritual souls and not to our physical body.
This however, is controversy to the Bible. Ever more so, when we study Jesus talk to Philippus >HE WHO SAW ME, SAW HE FATHER< (SAW Me - not heard me). The physical seeing is meant.
In not a single verse in the Bible is any contradiction to Gen 1,27 where we are told first time, that God created us in His likeness - later again in Joh 14,9.
Now - it would be a most impertinent thing to imagine God created us in more than physical appearance in His likeness. For this would mean in spiritual likeness. NO ! We NEVER could be anything near God’s spiritual likeness. But since God the Father and God the Son let us know that we (as Jesus was in His being fully man) are in God’s likeness. Physically of course only - though God gave us His “Odem” (breath) and with it a lot more.
So, if it’s said, that “God refers to our spiritual souls and not to our physical body” - it almost sounds as if we would soar ourselves impertinently near to God’s being. So to speak to God’s sons and daughters; - which however we kind of might become in a implied way - and even already are when we live in God the way God intended us to live - but certainly never Sons in a way Jesus Christ was. I hesitated strongly to put that last sentence down, for suchlike thoughts indeed are unabashed.
This and much more tells the Bible about God’s image, and not a single word that God would look entirely other than His created mankind - or Jesus Christ. Therefore again I wouldn’t say anything else than what I wrote in the first place in that other thread.
Never at all just to insist to be right - for on the contrary I underline that I of course might be wrong, but I don’t see any reason nor any contrary word in the Bible. I can’t change my attitude, but I do never say that I am right, but simply I relay literally on the Bible in not only Genesis 1,27, but also on Jesus’ diverse hints on that theme as told last time.
Let’s for instance look at another occurrence we are told in Matt 17,2 where Jesus did not at all change his human form, but still was so much transfigured “His face shone like the sun” - that the disciples had to cover their eyes. This tells a lot - same as many other biblical revelations about God, such as when Moses was allowed to see God’s back (rear) when God walked away. We just wouldn’t stand to see God’s face and stay alive as God Himself said to Moses when his desire was, to see God’s face - in Exodus 33,20: “you cannot see My face; for man shall not see Me and live.” Tough Moses face became shining in Ex 34,29-35.
And why at all should God create His beloved people in a completely different outlook instead of in His likeness?!
Yours
Bruno
http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=10419247#post10419247
to here
because it went off topic with “the image of God”
I’m convinced that we PHYSICALLY and not just in a little way SPIRITUALLY are in the likeness of God. Now, in private Mails I was reminded at these two sides who are supposed to contradict this:
http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/human.htm
and
http://www.saintpetercatholic.com/qa_image_of_god.html
Though both links where not REALLY helpful in this question, for both don’t clearly say, that God does NOT look like Jesus did on earth. Nor does the Bible. Vice versa the Bible tells us on several places, that we are created in God’s likeness, and the Bible does not say “spiritually only” otherwise we look entirely different. No way - for this would contradict Genesis 1,27.
But let’s have a look into the Catechism this great tool and help in all questions of belief. Here is a much clearer statement on this - under number 355 up to 360 where is tells, that St. Paul said we originate of two: Of Adam and of Jesus Christ (remember that Jesus Christ was long before Adam (which He stated by mentioning Abraham).
Referring to the mentioned article here the one and only relevant thing is: >he is “in the image of God”. When God lets us read in the Bible that He made us in His image, we might relay on this literally. Ever more so, since Jesus said to Philippus in Joh 14,8-11, as Philippus asks Jesus to show us God the Father, that when we saw Jesus, we saw the Father. So, since Jesus was a person as we are (besides of course being fully God too), the conclusion is obvious - WE ARE IN GOD’S LIKENESS - and let me add: SO VICE VERSA.
Now, the obvious controversy in this matter is that many presume, that
The image and likeness of God refers to our spiritual souls and not to our physical body.
This however, is controversy to the Bible. Ever more so, when we study Jesus talk to Philippus >HE WHO SAW ME, SAW HE FATHER< (SAW Me - not heard me). The physical seeing is meant.
In not a single verse in the Bible is any contradiction to Gen 1,27 where we are told first time, that God created us in His likeness - later again in Joh 14,9.
Now - it would be a most impertinent thing to imagine God created us in more than physical appearance in His likeness. For this would mean in spiritual likeness. NO ! We NEVER could be anything near God’s spiritual likeness. But since God the Father and God the Son let us know that we (as Jesus was in His being fully man) are in God’s likeness. Physically of course only - though God gave us His “Odem” (breath) and with it a lot more.
So, if it’s said, that “God refers to our spiritual souls and not to our physical body” - it almost sounds as if we would soar ourselves impertinently near to God’s being. So to speak to God’s sons and daughters; - which however we kind of might become in a implied way - and even already are when we live in God the way God intended us to live - but certainly never Sons in a way Jesus Christ was. I hesitated strongly to put that last sentence down, for suchlike thoughts indeed are unabashed.
This and much more tells the Bible about God’s image, and not a single word that God would look entirely other than His created mankind - or Jesus Christ. Therefore again I wouldn’t say anything else than what I wrote in the first place in that other thread.
Never at all just to insist to be right - for on the contrary I underline that I of course might be wrong, but I don’t see any reason nor any contrary word in the Bible. I can’t change my attitude, but I do never say that I am right, but simply I relay literally on the Bible in not only Genesis 1,27, but also on Jesus’ diverse hints on that theme as told last time.
Let’s for instance look at another occurrence we are told in Matt 17,2 where Jesus did not at all change his human form, but still was so much transfigured “His face shone like the sun” - that the disciples had to cover their eyes. This tells a lot - same as many other biblical revelations about God, such as when Moses was allowed to see God’s back (rear) when God walked away. We just wouldn’t stand to see God’s face and stay alive as God Himself said to Moses when his desire was, to see God’s face - in Exodus 33,20: “you cannot see My face; for man shall not see Me and live.” Tough Moses face became shining in Ex 34,29-35.
And why at all should God create His beloved people in a completely different outlook instead of in His likeness?!
Yours
Bruno
