Comments on: Reflections on the Deity of Christ – The Image of God http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/ Learning to appreciate the many different facets of Christianity Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:13:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Eclectic Christian http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-486 Eclectic Christian Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:35:56 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-486 The printing press / seal imagery is one that I hadn't heard before but is certainly (along with many of the other comments) a welcome addition to the discussion. Mike Bell The printing press / seal imagery is one that I hadn’t heard before but is certainly (along with many of the other comments) a welcome addition to the discussion.

Mike Bell

]]> By: willohroots http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-485 willohroots Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:30:27 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-485 KJV Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, NLT The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. NIV The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, ESV He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, NASB And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, RSV He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, YNG who being the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence,1) the instrument used for engraving or carving The word in Greek here is where we get our English word character check out the def. χαρακτήρ Transliteration charaktēr 2) the mark stamped upon that instrument or wrought out on it a) a mark or figure burned in (Lev. 13:28) or stamped on, an impression b) the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e facsimile The language is like unto a printing press or seal/stamp hence the Young's translation and RSV that try to show that when Jesus is pressed upon reality He leaves a God shaped impression. I hope that helps. The NIV can be a bit misleading on this,again. Nasb has the thought down well, but This is a fine example of how my lack of Greek makes sermon prep a real chore. Searching word by word takes time, but in some cases, and this was one, I couldn't get it without a dip into the original. Now I am fascinated with the picture of Christ being sent to leave God's image behind. If you see the character of Christ, you see the Character of God. wow Praise the Lord! KJV
Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, NLT
The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly.
NIV
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,
ESV
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,
NASB
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,
RSV
He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature,
YNG
who being the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence,1) the instrument used for engraving or carving
The word in Greek here is where we get our English word character check out the def.
χαρακτήρ
Transliteration
charaktēr
2) the mark stamped upon that instrument or wrought out on it
a) a mark or figure burned in (Lev. 13:28) or stamped on, an impression
b) the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e facsimile

The language is like unto a printing press or seal/stamp hence the Young’s translation and RSV that try to show that when Jesus is pressed upon reality He leaves a God shaped impression.
I hope that helps.
The NIV can be a bit misleading on this,again. Nasb has the thought down well, but This is a fine example of how my lack of Greek makes sermon prep a real chore. Searching word by word takes time, but in some cases, and this was one, I couldn’t get it without a dip into the original. Now I am fascinated with the picture of Christ being sent to leave God’s image behind. If you see the character of Christ, you see the Character of God. wow Praise the Lord!

]]> By: Eclectic Christian http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-478 Eclectic Christian Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:29:19 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-478 Josh, I don't have a problem with the word "exact" as long as it is qualified with a word like "representation". As noted in post two, we need to keep away from the concept of Son=Father. Mike Bell Josh,

I don’t have a problem with the word “exact” as long as it is qualified with a word like “representation”. As noted in post two, we need to keep away from the concept of Son=Father.

Mike Bell

]]> By: Eclectic Christian http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-477 Eclectic Christian Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:26:20 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-477 Cynthia, I agree with Josh about the terminology "exact replica". When we make a exact replica of something it is indistinguishable from the original. This would leave no real difference between the Father and the Son. A representation however, is more of a projection or an image. I think the star or sun analogy can be used here. If I see a picture of a sun, it might be an exact representation of the sun. It is not however a replica of the sun. Even an exact representation only gives us a sense of the scale or majesty or power of the original object. A representation typically only shows us an image of the surface, and not what the interior looks like. Mike Bell Cynthia,

I agree with Josh about the terminology “exact replica”. When we make a exact replica of something it is indistinguishable from the original. This would leave no real difference between the Father and the Son. A representation however, is more of a projection or an image. I think the star or sun analogy can be used here. If I see a picture of a sun, it might be an exact representation of the sun. It is not however a replica of the sun. Even an exact representation only gives us a sense of the scale or majesty or power of the original object. A representation typically only shows us an image of the surface, and not what the interior looks like.

Mike Bell

]]> By: Josh http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-476 Josh Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:39:38 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-476 I think there is room to be theologically worried about language like "exact replica." First, what do we mean when we say "exact" because I don't think we can mean the strict definition unless we want to say that God the Father has a body and this body is that of a middle-eastern Jew. Plus, I fear that the language of "exact replica" suggests that Jesus is superfluous in some way--a grace note. Exact representation is a little better but I still don't care much for the usage of the word "exact." I think there is room to be theologically worried about language like “exact replica.” First, what do we mean when we say “exact” because I don’t think we can mean the strict definition unless we want to say that God the Father has a body and this body is that of a middle-eastern Jew. Plus, I fear that the language of “exact replica” suggests that Jesus is superfluous in some way–a grace note.

Exact representation is a little better but I still don’t care much for the usage of the word “exact.”

]]> By: willohroots http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-474 willohroots Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:15:59 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-474 Hebrews 1. amazing! Love the star light thing. That will give me something for the Sci-fi crowd that they can understand. Thanks! Hebrews 1. amazing! Love the star light thing. That will give me something for the Sci-fi crowd that they can understand. Thanks!

]]> By: theoldadam http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-473 theoldadam Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:53:52 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-473 I like very much that idea of the image of the star as a way to help us understand the unseen God. I like to tell my friends who wonder about God that He has to remain invisable...otherwise we would not love Him, but only fear and hate Him. Through the gift of faith, and faith alone, we can ,love him because He first loved us. Otherwise we would remain with the lost, for as St. Paul reminds us..."...no one seeks for God." I like very much that idea of the image of the star as a way to help us understand the unseen God.

I like to tell my friends who wonder about God that He has to remain invisable…otherwise we would not love Him, but only fear and hate Him.

Through the gift of faith, and faith alone, we can ,love him because He first loved us. Otherwise we would remain with the lost, for as St. Paul reminds us…”…no one seeks for God.”

]]> By: Cynthia http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-471 Cynthia Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:48:41 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-471 As a homeschooling mom, I know my boys are fascinated by the whole concept of light years. When we do science tomorrow I will bring them to this post so we can discuss how this imagery works for them. I think that many people err in making Jesus too human sometimes...He was an exact replica, image of God the Father...how utterly amazing that I am in relationship with such a God as that! As a homeschooling mom, I know my boys are fascinated by the whole concept of light years. When we do science tomorrow I will bring them to this post so we can discuss how this imagery works for them. I think that many people err in making Jesus too human sometimes…He was an exact replica, image of God the Father…how utterly amazing that I am in relationship with such a God as that!

]]> By: Reflections on the Deity of Christ - Introduction « Eclectic Christian http://eclecticchristian.com/2009/01/21/reflections-on-the-deity-of-christ-the-image-of-god/#comment-470 Reflections on the Deity of Christ - Introduction « Eclectic Christian Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:22:46 +0000 http://eclecticchristian.com/?p=611#comment-470 [...] The Image of God [...] [...] The Image of God [...]

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