Were Angels Made in the Image of God?

[Rockerduck]

Would physical appearance then be another way angels (at least some of whom have the ability to look like human beings) were created in the image of God?

I would say so. Our spirit bodies maybe even closer to the image of God, however, I don't know. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:14, that Satan appears as an angel of Light. I haven't seen Satan, but I've heard him speak to me.

 

[Matthias]

“Among theologians that do discuss it, some assume that angels are created in God’s image just as humanity is; defining imago Dei as intellect, emotion, will, and spirituality would naturally lead to that assumption. Others, however, assert that the idea of angelic imago Dei has no basis in biblical revelation… But putting one’s finger on the precise difference(s) between humans and angels with respect to imago Dei is tricky for two reasons: (1) The Bible really never fully explains exactly what imago Dei means; and (2) we’re not told a lot about angels either, at least in respect to their creation and nature. …

Exercising dominion in the imago Dei is a unique privilege that carries unique responsibility. It actually entails acting like God.”

Are Angels in the Image of God? | BJU Seminary

seminary.bju.edu

Do the angels act like God? If they do, even in some limited way that humans don’t, is that another way to understand them as being created in the image of God?

 

[Rockerduck]

“Among theologians that do discuss it, some assume that angels are created in God’s image just as humanity is; defining imago Dei as intellect, emotion, will, and spirituality would naturally lead to that assumption. Others, however, assert that the idea of angelic imago Dei has no basis in biblical revelation… But putting one’s finger on the precise difference(s) between humans and angels with respect to imago Dei is tricky for two reasons: (1) The Bible really never fully explains exactly what imago Dei means; and (2) we’re not told a lot about angels either, at least in respect to their creation and nature. …

Exercising dominion in the imago Dei is a unique privilege that carries unique responsibility. It actually entails acting like God.”

Are Angels in the Image of God? | BJU Seminary

seminary.bju.edu

Do the angels act like God? If they do, even in some limited way that humans don’t, is that another way to understand them as being created in the image of God?

In my limited experience. They look like humans, but without the sin nature. They barely speak, waving and nodding normally, and ask a question, then acknowledge with a nod. They dress differently and act differently than human beings. I've witnessed angels' strength to pick up more weight than humans can. I can assume the ones I've seen were assigned to me for help and protection. We obey God, they obey God. Except we have to contend with the thorns of this world, hence they help and protect from the prince of the power of the air. Who is always trying to ruin a Christians testimony to render those Christians a bad reputation.

 

[Matthias]

In my limited experience. They look like humans, but without the sin nature. They barely speak, waving and nodding normally, and ask a question, then acknowledge with a nod. They dress differently and act differently than human beings. I've witnessed angels' strength to pick up more weight than humans can. I can assume the ones I've seen were assigned to me for help and protection. We obey God, they obey God. Except we have to contend with the thorns of this world, hence they help and protect from the prince of the power of the air. Who is always trying to ruin a Christians testimony to render those Christians a bad reputation.

Sounds to me that those whom you’ve seen were godlike.

 

[Wrangler]

What is the strongest argument against the angels having been created in the likeness of God?

The absence of Scripture is the strongest argument against the angels having been created in the likeness of God.

 

[Matthias]

The absence of Scripture is the strongest argument against the angels having been created in the likeness of God.

I see it that way too.

The trinitarian I quoted in the OP commented that it is implied. Others, trinitarian and non-trinitarian alike, conclude that it isn’t implied. Everyone agrees that it isn’t explicitly stated, one way or the other.

One of the questions we should ask ourselves is whether or not seeing it implied in scripture contradicts another doctrine. I don’t know of any doctrine, not even trinitarian doctrine, that believing angels were created in the image of God contradicts. Someone else might. If they do, that should be taken into consideration and evaluated.

 

[Matthias]

“…the uncreated divine spirit, made them in his image before he made us. … they’re made in God’s image and likeness also and they govern over us under his rule. …”

(Fr. Hugh Barbour)

What Do Catholics Believe About Angels?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear about the existence of angels. "The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith.

www.catholic.com

 

[Matthias]

“Question

Dear Father Angelo,

Please tall me whether what I’m about to write is true or not. God created the angels, pure spirits endowed with free will, and he created them after his image and likeness, an image and likeness more perfect than men’s …

Father Angelo responds to the inquiry -

“Dear Paolo,
Your statement is correct, and I’d like to take this opportunity to corroborate it with some evidence from Saint Thomas

1. Saint Thomas points out that men and angels were created after the image of God by virtue of their spirituality. ‘Man is said to be after the image of God, not as regards his body, but as regards that whereby he excels other animals. Hence, when it is said, ‘Let us make man in our image and likeness’, it is added, ‘And let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea’ (Gn. 1:26). Now man excels all animals by his reason and intelligence; hence it is according to his intelligence and reason, which are incorporeal, that man is said to be according to the image of God’ (Summa Theologica, I, 3, 1, ad. 2).

2. While men and angels are ‘after‘ the image but He is ’the’ image, according to what Saint Paul affirms in his letter to the Colossians: ‘He is the image of the invisible God’ (Col 1,15).

Saint Thomas argues that ‘The image of a thing may be found in something in two ways. In one way it is found in something of the same specific nature; as the image of the king is found in his son. In another way it is found in something of a different nature, as the king’s image on the coin. In the first sense the Son is the Image of the Father; in the second sense man is called the image of God; and therefore in order to express the imperfect character of the divine image in man, man is not simply called the image, but ‘to the image,’ whereby is expressed a certain movement of tendency to perfection. But it cannot be said that the Son of God is ‘to the image,’ because He is the perfect Image of the Father’ (Summa Theologica, I, 35, 2, ad. 3).”

Were angels created in the image of God in a more perfect way than men?

Question Dear Father Angelo, Please, tell me whether what I am about to write is true or not. God created the angels, pure spirits endowed with free will, and he created them after his image and likeness, an image and likeness more perfect than men's, because angels

www.amicidomenicani.it

He has two additional points which I will quote in my next post.

 

[Matthias]

Fr. Angelo continues -

“3. Moreover, the image of God is more perfect in angels than in men ‘because their intellectual nature is more perfect’ (Summa Theologica p, I, 93, 3).

However, in other respects, a man reflects reflects the divine nature more closely than an angel does, for example, in his participation in God’s paternity, and in the redemption of the world. ‘Therefore, as in their intellectual nature, the angels are more to the image of God than man ism we must grant that, absolutely speaking, the angels are more to the image of God than man is, but that in some respects man is more like to God (Ib.).

4. It should also be said that a man can grow in grace, and can therefore grow in his supernatural image of God. His grace can rise to a degree that surpasses that of the Angels, as is the case of Mary, who is the Queen of the angels also by virtue of her holiness.

More precisely, Our Lady was created from the very first moment with a degree of holiness that was superior to that of the angels, even though by her nature she is less to the image of God than the angels are.

Wishing you to surpass the angels in holiness, I recommend you to the Lord and bless you.

Father Angelo.”

Bold is his.

Were angels created in the image of God in a more perfect way than men?

Question Dear Father Angelo, Please, tell me whether what I am about to write is true or not. God created the angels, pure spirits endowed with free will, and he created them after his image and likeness, an image and likeness more perfect than men's, because angels

www.amicidomenicani.it

 

[soberxp]

What does it mean :What does it mean to be created in the image of God?

1. "Jesus said, 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.'" (John 14:9)
2. "He also taught, 'We no longer regard anyone from a worldly point of view.'" (2 Corinthians 5:16)
3. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." (John 1:1)
4. "The Word became flesh." (John 1:14)

---

Key Notes:​

• John 14:9: Jesus reveals His divine nature as the perfect representation of God (Colossians 1:15).
• 2 Corinthians 5:16: Refers to transcending superficial judgments to see others (and Christ) through spiritual renewal.
• John 1:1–14: The "Word" (Greek: Logos) embodies God’s eternal wisdom and creative power, incarnated in Jesus to reconcile humanity to God (Hebrews 1:3).

This sequence underscores the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and the incarnation—God’s ultimate self-revelation in Christ


"But God creating man in His image (Genesis 1:27) does not mean we, as created beings, can usurp His divinity. As the angel in Scripture declares: ‘Do not worship me; worship God!’ (Revelation 22:9)."

 

[Matthias]

1. "Jesus said, 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.'" (John 14:9)
2. "He also taught, 'We no longer regard anyone from a worldly point of view.'" (2 Corinthians 5:16)
3. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." (John 1:1)
4. "The Word became flesh." (John 1:14)

---

​

Yes. All of that is true.

Key Notes:​

• John 14:9: Jesus reveals His divine nature as the perfect representation of God (Colossians 1:15).
• 2 Corinthians 5:16: Refers to transcending superficial judgments to see others (and Christ) through spiritual renewal.
• John 1:1–14: The "Word" (Greek: Logos) embodies God’s eternal wisdom and creative power, incarnated in Jesus to reconcile humanity to God (Hebrews 1:3).

This sequence underscores the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and the incarnation—God’s ultimate self-revelation in Christ

That is a trinitarian interpretation of the passages you‘ve cited. As a Jewish monotheist, I interpret the same passages but through the lens of Jewish monotheism. Naturally that gives each of us a different understanding of what the scripture says, and even of who God is.

"But God creating man in His image (Genesis 1:27) does not mean we, as created beings, can usurp His divinity.

“Divinity” has multiple meanings. I think you are probably using it as synonymous with “deity”. If that is the case then we are in agreement.

As the angel in Scripture declares: ‘Do not worship me; worship God!’ (Revelation 22:9)."

Many people are worshipped in scripture without being worshipped as God. A classical example is found in 1 Chronicles 29:20, where the people worshipped both Yahweh their God and David their king.

In the thread we’ve identified several things pertaining to the image of God which are applicable to both angels and human beings. It seems reasonable to me to conclude that, at least in a few ways, angels and human beings are created in the image of God. That’s an important conclusion as it bears on the understanding of Genesis 1:26.

 

[soberxp]

Yes. All of that is true.



That is a trinitarian interpretation of the passages you‘ve cited. As a Jewish monotheist, I interpret the same passages but through the lens of Jewish monotheism. Naturally that gives each of us a different understanding of what the scripture says, and even of who God is.



“Divinity” has multiple meanings. I think you are probably using it as synonymous with “deity”. If that is the case then we are in agreement.



Many people are worshipped in scripture without being worshipped as God. A classical example is found in 1 Chronicles 29:20, where the people worshipped both Yahweh their God and David their king.

In the thread we’ve identified several things pertaining to the image of God which are applicable to both angels and human beings. It seems reasonable to me to conclude that, at least in a few ways, angels and human beings are created in the image of God. That’s an important conclusion as it bears on the understanding of Genesis 1:26.

Even if God created humanity in His likeness (Genesis 1:27), we must remain humble as the Heavenly angles, knowing we worship the One true God. As Scripture declares: ‘The Lord is King of kings, Lord of lords, and God of gods’ (Deuteronomy 10:17; Revelation 19:16)."

Only worship the One true God,cuz word of God first comes from him,not us nor angles.

 

[Matthias]

Even if God created humanity in His likeness (Genesis 1:27), we must remain humble as the Heavenly angles, knowing we worship the One true God. As Scripture declares: ‘The Lord is King of kings, Lord of lords, and God of gods’ (Deuteronomy 10:17; Revelation 19:16)."

Only worship the One true God,cuz word of God first comes from him,not us nor angles.

Those are good points. In Jewish monotheism, the one true God is the Messiah’s God and none other.

The Messiah himself - Jesus of Nazareth - is a Jewish monotheist. It’s reasonable from the perspective of a Jewish monotheist to worship as the one true God the only one whom the Messiah himself worships as the one true God.

Trinitarians will of course have a different perspective.

P.S.

Where do you stand on the issue of angels being created in the image of the one true God?

P.P.S.

Do you attend Church in China?

 

[soberxp]

Those are good points. In Jewish monotheism, the one true God is the Messiah’s God and none other.

The Messiah himself - Jesus of Nazareth - is a Jewish monotheist. It’s reasonable from the perspective of a Jewish monotheist to worship as the one true God the only one whom the Messiah himself worships as the one true God.

Trinitarians will of course have a different perspective.

P.S.

Where do you stand on the issue of angels being created in the image of the one true God?

Gen 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.


The word "us" appear in this sentence. Our image. Who are we? Some say it means, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. So where are the angels?

Doesn't the meaning of the word in this sentence include angels?

P.P.S.

Do you attend Church in China?

I used to go to church, but now I don't go to church. Maybe the problem is me, I can't meet the church that makes me happy.It's a long story, but I don't want to talk about it.

 

[Matthias]

Gen 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.


The word "us" appear in this sentence. Our image. Who are we? Some say it means, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.

Yes. What do you say?

So where are the angels?

Doesn't the meaning of the word in this sentence include angels?

The angels didn’t create man but are also, at least to some extent, created in God’s image.

I used to go to church, but now I don't go to church. Maybe the problem is me, I can't meet the church that makes me happy.It's a long story, but I don't want to talk about it.

Thank you. I respect your privacy and won’t inquire any further about that aspect of your life.

 

[soberxp]

The angels didn’t create man.
.

Angels have been involved in God's plan for the creation of man, and the angels in the Bible are involved because we are still in the flesh. Only when man become spiritual the creation of man truly be finished.