The biblical image of God in human beings is not an unblemished set of rules or an ideal of purity, but a profound reminder of our unique ability to become personal beings capable of engaging in dialogue and participating in divine perfections.

Mirroring the Divine: The Promise of Spiritual Growth in Imperfection

The biblical image of God in human beings is not an unblemished set of rules or an ideal of purity, but a profound reminder of our unique ability to become personal beings capable of engaging in dialogue and participating in divine perfections. Although human nature often displays its dark side—from baseness to irrationality—each one of us holds the potential for spiritual growth. This image, which distinguishes humans from all other creations, indicates the possibility of developing the inner self and striving for higher spiritual truths. This perspective inspires us not to resign ourselves to imperfection, but to seek ways of renewal and a deeper understanding of our essence. In each of us, despite our fallen traits, there lies a spark capable of transforming our lives and bringing us closer to sharing in divine fullness, giving us strength and hope for a better future.

What can be said about the biblical image of God if a person, as His likeness, often turns out to be base, perverted, or irrational?

The biblical image of God reflected in man is primarily not associated with impeccable morality or perfection, but with his unique ability to be a personal being—a bearer of potential for communication and participation in divine perfections. Even if human nature often manifests itself in the form of baseness, perversion, or irrationality, this image remains a fundamental guideline, emphasizing the personal nature of humans. As St. Philaret of Moscow noted, "All creatures show us traces of the Creator, but only like a 'divine rear view'; however, the likeness of God's face is found only in man. Unlike all other creatures, man is not only connected to Divinity, but is capable of freely participating in divine perfections" (source: link txt).

Thus, the presence of God's image in man does not automatically imply an exact reflection of all the noble qualities of the Creator. Rather, it indicates the inherent possibility and call to develop one's personality towards higher spiritual truths, even if human life often turns out to be overshadowed by imperfection. In other words, the biblical image of God in man is a hopeful reminder of man's intended role as the personal reflection of God, despite the manifestations of his fallen aspects.

Supporting citation(s):

"St. Philaret of Moscow, noting that man reflects the perfections of the Creator differently from other creations, remarks that 'All creatures show us traces of the Creator, but only like a 'divine rear view'; however, the likeness of the face of God is found only in man.' Unlike all other creatures, man is not only connected to Divinity, but is capable of freely participating in divine perfections." (source: link txt)