Deriving the Imago Dei from the Incarnation

The doctrine of the imago Dei is one of the center pieces of Christian theology. It is something that all human beings possess that unites them as well as sets them apart from the rest of creation.

There are, however, disputes over what the imago Dei entails. I propose that the doctrine of the Incarnation coupled with the doctrine of divine omniscience and theory of divine ideas can provide an explanation as to what properties constitute the divine image.

Since the Incarnation is a logical possibility for the Godhead, it resides as an idea within the necessarily and a se omniscient divine mind. This idea represents what God (namely the Second Person) would be like (i.e. his image) if he took on corporeal form.

As a result, human nature (i.e. the imago Dei) is derived from the divine ontology and its potential incarnation. Thus, both material and immaterial human properties can be said to be part of the imago Dei.

The full-text of this paper is available for FREE by clicking here. The paper is part of an ongoing EPS web project focused on a Philosophy of Theological Anthropology.

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