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Image of God

The theology that “form of God” is referring to Yeshua’s
pre-existent state is coupled with several other passages that
seem to teach the same thing. Colossians 1:15-20 is a prime
example. Trinitarians, and those who believe in a Biune God,
argue from these verses that: 1) Yeshua is called the “image
of God” which really means God and 2) that Yeshua is called
the Creator. These are grievous errors! Don’t you think it
might be going too far to equate “image of God” with
YEHOVAH Himself? In other words, if “image of God”
means YEHOVAH Himself — then what does “God” mean?
If “God” can be described as “image of God” then what does
“image of God” describe? If you define “image of God” as
“God” then you have real problems with defining “God” —
isn’t that true? And don’t we see in Genesis 1 that man was
Hope of Israel Ministries (Church of created in the image of YEHOVAH God?
YEHOVAH)
The Berean Voice Magazine As you can discern in every day life, something can be a per-
P.O. Box 6772 fect representation of an object or person without being the
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359-6772, U.S.A. object or person itself. We often say about photographs, “It
looks just like him, doesn’t it?” The statement by Yeshua
Website (West Coast): found in John 14:19, i.e., “if you have seen me you have seen
http://hope-of-israel.org the Father” explains quite well what Paul was alluding to by
Website (East Coast): the phrase “image of the invisible God” found in Colossians
http://hope-of-isreal.net 1. He was not teaching the pre-existence of Yeshua in some
pre-incarnate state any more than Yeshua was telling Philip
E-mail: kiwihope@netscape.net that he had literally seen YEHOVAH God when he beheld
Yeshua. Yeshua bore an “image,” a “form,” a “likeness to the
Fax: (818) 878-9334 invisible God in his character, teachings and behavior — ex-
hibited in the same way that believers are encouraged to be
Editor and Director: John D. Keyser ”Christlike" in their manner of life. Wouldn’t it be accurate to
refer to an individual that taught and acted like Yeshua as the
Contributing Writers: “image of the invisible Yeshua”? If not, why not? How do
Juan Baixeras the Greek scholars define “image”? The Trinitarian Vine de-
Ernest Martin fines it thus: “EIKON (eikon) denotes an image: the word in-
Ramon Bennett volves the two ideas of representation and manifestation. (d)
of Christ in relation to God, 2 Cor. 4:4, ‘the image of God,’
Technical Advisor: Sean Keyser i.e. essentially and absolutely the perfect expression and rep-
resentation of the Archetype, God the Father; in Col. 1:15,
Hope of Israel Ministries -- ‘the image of the invisible God’ gives the additional thought
suggested by the word ‘invisible,’ that Christ is the visible
Preparing the Way for the representation and manifestation of God to created beings.”
Return of YEHOVAH Even though a Trinitarian, Vine does not equate “image of
God and His Messiah! God” with “God” Himself in his definition.
— John D. Keyser