The Image of the Invisible God – Part 1

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature 

‘Image’ [Greek: eikon] a figure; image; likeness. Here it means outward and bodily image (Matt. 22:20; Mark 12:16; Luke 20:24; Rom. 1:23; 1Cor. 11:7; 15:49; 2Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15; Heb. 10:1; Rev. 13:14-15; 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). It is used only three times of moral and spiritual likeness (Rom. 8:29; 2Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10).

God is a Spirit Being, not the sun, moon, or stars; nor an image of wood, stone, or metal; and not beast or man. He is not the air, wind, universal mind, love or some impersonal quality. He is a person with a personal spirit body, a personal soul, and a personal spirit, like that of angels, and like that of a man except His body is of spirit substance instead of flesh and bones (Job 13:8; Heb. 1:3).

He has a personal spirit body (Dan. 7:9-14; 10:5-19); shape (John 5:37); form (Php. 2:5-7); image and likeness of a man (Gen. 1:26; 9:6; Ezek. 1:26-28; 1Cor. 11:7; Jas. 3:9). He has physical parts such as, back parts (Ex. 33:23), heart (Gen. 6:6; 8:21), hands and fingers (Ps. 8:3-6; Heb. 1:10; Rev. 5:1-7), mouth (Num. 12:8), lips and tongue (Isa. 30:27), feet (Ezek. 1:27; Ex. 24:10), eyes (Ps. 11:4; 18:24; 33:18), ears (Ps. 18:6), hair, head, face, arms (Dan. 7:9-14; 10:5-19; Rev. 5:1-7; 22:4-6), loins (Ezek. 1:26-28; 8:1-4), and other physical parts. He has bodily presence (Gen. 3:8; 18:1-22) and goes from place to place in a body like all other persons (Gen. 3:8; 11:5; 18:1-5, 22, 33; 19:24; 32:24-32; 35:13; Zech. 14:5; Dan. 7:9-14; Tit. 2:13). He has a voice (Ps. 29:1-11; Rev. 10:3-4); breath (Gen. 2:7); and countenance (Ps. 11:7). He wears clothes (Dan. 7:9-14; 10:5-19); eats (Gen. 18:1-8; Ex. 24:11); rests (Gen. 2:1-4; Heb. 4:4); dwells in a mansion and in a city located on a material place called Heaven (John 14:1-3; Heb. 11:10-16; 13:14; Rev. 21:1-27); sits on a throne (Isa. 6:1-13; Dan. 7:9-14; Rev. 4:1-5; 22:3-6); walks (Gen. 3:8; 18:1-8, 22, 33); rides (Ps. 18:10; 68:17; 104:3; Ezek. 1:1-28); and engages in other activities.

To be continued…