God revealed in Christ

Christ the image of God.

The Eastern/Greek Orthodox Bible: New Testament Chapter 1

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation

The Eastern/Greek Orthodox Bible: New Testament Chapter 4

Christ who is the image of God

We all construct images of who God is within our minds. For some, their image of God may resemble the pagan gods of the Hellenic world. This anthropomorphic view holds an image of a bearded man, who lives somewhere in the sky. For others, God may be perceived as an energy or force, which fills all creation. I am sure there are many who may have a very twisted view of God because of their upbringing in a particular Christian denomination. I for one fall into this camp. Whilst others may identify God as a super human form of themselves.

The fourth commandment states that man shall not create a graven image of God. Man cannot create a true depiction of the invisible God. Any attempt at this would purely be an idol. We have seen throughout history how gods have been created in ways that resemble us. These deities are stronger, more attractive, and wiser than ourselves. Moreover, the characteristics of such a deity usually reflect those of the very human creating it. Is this not something that we are still continuing today? When we conjure up an image of God in our minds, we are engraving an image of God, which in no way reflects who God is. Hence, this is why God forbade engraving images; the human mind lacks the capabilities to truly portray a true resemblance of God Himself.