Episode 190 - The Creation of Humanity

The Creation of Humanity
Reid S. Monaghan, Jesse Furey
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Show Notes

Scripture Referenced

  • Scripture Referenced

  • Genesis 1:26-28

  • Genesis 3:15

  • Psalm 8

  • 2 Corinthians 4:5

  • Colossians 1:13

Quotations

Ontological or Structural Views of Image of God

  • Augustine (354-430) located the image in the rational soul, finding a trinitarian structure in memory, understanding, and will (De Trinitate, Books IX–XIV).

    “The mind is the image of God, in that it is capable of Him and can be partaker of Him.” —

    De Trinitate 14.8.11 (NPNF trans.)

  • Anselm (1033-1109) follows a similar line of thinking, treating the image as the capacity to remember, understand, and love God:

    “I acknowledge, Lord, and give thanks that you have created in me this your image, so that I may remember you, think of you, love you. But this image is so worn away by vices, so smudged by the smoke of sins, that it cannot do what it was created to do unless you renew and refashion it.” — Proslogion, ch. 1

  • Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) grounds the image in intellect and freedom:

    “Man is said to be made to God’s image, in so far as the image implies an intelligent being endowed with free-will and self-movement.” — Summa Theologiae I-II, prologue

    “Intellectual creatures alone, properly speaking, are made to God’s image.” — ST I, q. 93, a. 2

    Aquinas also distinguishes a threefold image: by nature (all men), by grace (in those justified), by glorification (in the blessed) — ST I, q. 93, a. 4

Functional View of the Image of God

  • Functional - The image of God means to have dominion, that human beings were made to rule and reign as representatives or vice regents of God on the earth.

  • Anthony Hoekema brings together the structural and functional views: The image of God in man must therefore be seen as involving both the structure of man and the functioning of man— Hoekema, Created in God’s Image, 1986

Relationally as central to understanding Image of God

  • Karth Barth (1886-1968) is the key theologian here - he saw "male and female he created them" to indicate relationality as key to understanding the image of God.

Summary God created us with certain capacities (intellect, understanding, emotions, will), to do what he created human beings to do (rule and reign and represent God on the earth) in covenantal relationship with God and other people.

Other Quotations Cited

  • “The image of God carries with it the right not to be mistreated or harmed.... Regardless of their record or character, all human beings have an irreducible glory and significance to them, because God loves them.... So we must treasure each and every human being as a way of showing due respect for the majesty of their owner and Creator.” — Timothy Keller, Generous Justice

  • “We are not to consider what men merit of themselves but to look upon the image of God in all men, to which we owe all honor and love.” — Institutes IV.1.7

Reid S. Monaghan

Reid Monaghan received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science with a minor in Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at UNC he also competed on the wrestling team for the then perennial ACC Champion and top ten Tarheels. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Apologetics, a multidisciplinary degree involving Philosophy, Biblical studies, and Theology.

After college, he spent eight years serving alongside his wife Kasey on the college campus with the ministry of Athletes in Action. He pioneered the Athletes in Action campus ministry at Virginia Tech and was the director there from 1998-2004. During his final two years on AIA staff Reid also served as regional director for the Mid-Atlantic and Ivy League schools. From 2004-2008 Reid was on the staff of Fellowship Nashville where he started a work with young adults called Inversion, preached in the Sunday rotation and taught classes in theology and Christian Apologetics.

Along with a team of friends, Reid planted Jacob’s Well, a theologically driven and culturally engaged church in Central New Jersey. He also pioneered the Acts 29 Network in the state of New Jersey, served on the Northeast lead team, and as director for church planter assessment for the US South Central Network. Reid continues to consult and coach church planters as part of his ministry.

He is a traveling speaker where he addresses students and athletes on various campuses throughout the United States. He has spoken to college students at such institutions as Brown, Princeton, Yale, Wake Forest, Rutgers, UNC Chapel Hill, and Virginia Tech. In addition to his campus work he has spoken in chapel services for the Tennessee Titans, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Football Giants.

He has long been engaged with the task of bringing the gospel to people in culture in clear, relevant and compelling ways combining theological vision, apologetics, Christian thought and popular culture.

Some of his greatest joys in life are from the gifts God has given him in his wife Kasey (married 1996), and his kiddos Kayla (arrival 2001), Kylene (arrival 2003), and Thomas Reid (arrival 2006).

Reid has a limited number of dates each year to speak in various venues. His areas of strength are with Christian apologetics, athletes, biblical preaching, family life and worship, college students, and ethnically diverse audiences. Please contact us via our Speaker Request Form if you would like Reid to come and serve with your church or campus ministry.