The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1For two thousand years, Christians have been intrigued by the somewhat enigmatic Imago Dei references in the book of Genesis. Much theological ink has been spilled mulling over the significance and meaning of these words: "Let us make humanity in our image, according to our likeness . . . " In The Liberating Image, J. Richard Middleton takes on anew the challenge of interpreting the Imago Dei. Reflecting on the potential of the Imago Dei texts for developing an ethics of power rooted in compassion, he relates its significance to the Christian community's distinct calling in an increasingly violent world. The Liberating Image introduces a relevant, scholarly take on an important Christian doctrine. It will appeal to all Christians seeking to better understand what it means to be made in God's image. |
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Akkadian ancient Near East ancient Near Eastern articulated Assyrian Atrahasis Epic Babel Babylon Babylonian Bible biblical scholars Brueggemann chaos chaos-cosmos Chaoskampf chapter Christian claims combat myth context cosmic cosmos created creation account creation of humanity creation story Creation Theology creation-by-combat creative acts creatures critique cult image cult statue cultic cultural Curtis Dalley demūt distinction divine earth Egyptian Enlil Enuma Elish Esarhaddon ethical exile Exodus flood Fortress function Genesis Gerhard von Rad God’s God's image gods Grand Rapids heaven Hebrew Ibid imago imago Dei interpretation intertextual Isaiah Israel Israelite kingship legitimate Levenson literary Marduk meaning Mesopotamian Mesopotamian ideology Mesopotamian kings metaphor Ninurta notion Old Testament Old Testament scholars parallel portrayed priest priestly primeval history primordial Psalm reading references relationship rhetorical royal ideology selem significant social suggests Sumerian Sumerian King List temple Tiamat tradition trans translation typically University Press violence Walter Brueggemann Whereas word worldview YHWH zikru