Page 1
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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Christian
spiritual
Formation
An Integrated Approach forPersonal and Relational Wholeness
D
D i a n e J
C h a n D l e r
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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CHRISTIAN
SPIRITUAL
FORMATION
An Integrated Approach for
Personal and Relational Wholeness
DIANE J
CHANDLER
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World Wide Web wwwivpresscom
E-mail emailivpresscom
copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler
All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press
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Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he
Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs
reserved
While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he
privacy o he individuals involved
Cover design Cindy Kiple
Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo
flames copy sbayramiSockphoo
ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)
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Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin
InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress
P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625
Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628
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C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155
Lis of Figures 852025
Preface 983089983089
Acknowledgmens 983089852019
983089 Inroducion 983089852021
983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023
he Imago Dei
852019 he Love of God 852020983090
he Saring Place
852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih
852021 Emoions 852024852019
Our Feelings
852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022
Our Social Connecedness
852023 Inellec 983089983090852023
Our Minds
852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089
Our Lie Purpose and Calling
852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016
Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025
Our Resources
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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024
Our Ehical Living
983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023
Noes 983090852023852025
Subjec Index 852019852021983089
Auhor Index 852019852021852022
Scripure Index 852019852022852016
Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021
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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155
983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024
983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024
852019983089 he love of God 852020852020
852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020
852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024
852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022
852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025
852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025
852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019
852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090
983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089
983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016
983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020
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1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 2
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 234
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 334
CHRISTIAN
SPIRITUAL
FORMATION
An Integrated Approach for
Personal and Relational Wholeness
DIANE J
CHANDLER
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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InerVarsiy Press
PO Box 1048625104862810486241048624 Downers Grove IL 10486301048624104862910486251048629-1048625104862810486261048630
World Wide Web wwwivpresscom
E-mail emailivpresscom
copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler
All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press
InerVarsiy Pressreg is he book-publishing division o InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSAreg a movemen o sudens and
aculy acive on campus a hundreds o universiies colleges and schools o nursing in he Unied Saes o America and amember movemen o he Inernaional Fellowship o Evangelical Sudens For inormaion abou local and regional aciviies
wrie Public Relaions Dep InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSA 1048630104862810486241048624 Schroeder Rd PO Box 1048631104863210486331048629 Madison WI
10486291048627104863110486241048631-1048631104863210486331048629 or visi he IVCF websie a ltwwwinervarsiyorggt
Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he
Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs
reserved
While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he
privacy o he individuals involved
Cover design Cindy Kiple
Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo
flames copy sbayramiSockphoo
ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)
ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048632104862410486261048628-1048633 (digial)
Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin
InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress
P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625
Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155
Lis of Figures 852025
Preface 983089983089
Acknowledgmens 983089852019
983089 Inroducion 983089852021
983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023
he Imago Dei
852019 he Love of God 852020983090
he Saring Place
852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih
852021 Emoions 852024852019
Our Feelings
852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022
Our Social Connecedness
852023 Inellec 983089983090852023
Our Minds
852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089
Our Lie Purpose and Calling
852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016
Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025
Our Resources
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024
Our Ehical Living
983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023
Noes 983090852023852025
Subjec Index 852019852021983089
Auhor Index 852019852021852022
Scripure Index 852019852022852016
Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155
983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024
983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024
852019983089 he love of God 852020852020
852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020
852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024
852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022
852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025
852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025
852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019
852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090
983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089
983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016
983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934
852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 3
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 334
CHRISTIAN
SPIRITUAL
FORMATION
An Integrated Approach for
Personal and Relational Wholeness
DIANE J
CHANDLER
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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InerVarsiy Press
PO Box 1048625104862810486241048624 Downers Grove IL 10486301048624104862910486251048629-1048625104862810486261048630
World Wide Web wwwivpresscom
E-mail emailivpresscom
copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler
All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press
InerVarsiy Pressreg is he book-publishing division o InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSAreg a movemen o sudens and
aculy acive on campus a hundreds o universiies colleges and schools o nursing in he Unied Saes o America and amember movemen o he Inernaional Fellowship o Evangelical Sudens For inormaion abou local and regional aciviies
wrie Public Relaions Dep InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSA 1048630104862810486241048624 Schroeder Rd PO Box 1048631104863210486331048629 Madison WI
10486291048627104863110486241048631-1048631104863210486331048629 or visi he IVCF websie a ltwwwinervarsiyorggt
Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he
Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs
reserved
While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he
privacy o he individuals involved
Cover design Cindy Kiple
Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo
flames copy sbayramiSockphoo
ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)
ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048632104862410486261048628-1048633 (digial)
Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin
InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress
P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625
Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155
Lis of Figures 852025
Preface 983089983089
Acknowledgmens 983089852019
983089 Inroducion 983089852021
983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023
he Imago Dei
852019 he Love of God 852020983090
he Saring Place
852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih
852021 Emoions 852024852019
Our Feelings
852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022
Our Social Connecedness
852023 Inellec 983089983090852023
Our Minds
852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089
Our Lie Purpose and Calling
852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016
Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025
Our Resources
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024
Our Ehical Living
983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023
Noes 983090852023852025
Subjec Index 852019852021983089
Auhor Index 852019852021852022
Scripure Index 852019852022852016
Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021
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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155
983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024
983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024
852019983089 he love of God 852020852020
852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020
852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024
852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022
852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025
852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025
852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019
852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090
983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089
983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016
983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020
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1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134
852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 4
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 434
InerVarsiy Press
PO Box 1048625104862810486241048624 Downers Grove IL 10486301048624104862910486251048629-1048625104862810486261048630
World Wide Web wwwivpresscom
E-mail emailivpresscom
copy1048626104862410486251048628 by Diane J Chandler
All righs reserved No par o his book may be reproduced in any orm wihou writen permission fom InerVarsiy Press
InerVarsiy Pressreg is he book-publishing division o InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSAreg a movemen o sudens and
aculy acive on campus a hundreds o universiies colleges and schools o nursing in he Unied Saes o America and amember movemen o he Inernaional Fellowship o Evangelical Sudens For inormaion abou local and regional aciviies
wrie Public Relaions Dep InerVarsiy Chrisian FellowshipUSA 1048630104862810486241048624 Schroeder Rd PO Box 1048631104863210486331048629 Madison WI
10486291048627104863110486241048631-1048631104863210486331048629 or visi he IVCF websie a ltwwwinervarsiyorggt
Scripure quoaions unless oherwise noed are fom he New Revised Sandard Version of he Bible copyrigh 1048625104863310486321048633 by he
Division o Chrisian Educaion o he Naional Council o he Churches o Chris in he USA Used by permission All righs
reserved
While all sories in his book are rue some names and ideniying inormaion in his book have been changed o proec he
privacy o he individuals involved
Cover design Cindy Kiple
Inerior design Beh Hagenberg Images blank paper copy olga_EZCANiSockphoo
flames copy sbayramiSockphoo
ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048628104862410486281048626-1048631 (prin)
ISBN 104863310486311048632-1048624-1048632104862710486241048632-1048632104862410486261048628-1048633 (digial)
Prined in he Unied Saes o America infin
InerVarsiy Press is commited o proecing he environmen and o he responsible use o naural resources Asa member o Green Press Iniiaive we use recycled paper whenever possible o learn more abou he Green Press Iniiaive visi ltwwwgreenpressiniiaiveorggt
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A caalog record or his book is available fom he Library o Congress
P 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628 10486251048627 10486251048626 10486251048625 10486251048624 1048633 1048632 1048631 1048630 1048629 1048628 1048627 1048626 1048625
Y 10486271048629 10486271048628 10486271048627 10486271048626 10486271048625 10486271048624 10486261048633 10486261048632 10486261048631 10486261048630 10486261048629 10486261048628 10486261048627 10486261048626 10486261048625 10486261048624 10486251048633 10486251048632 10486251048631 10486251048630 10486251048629 10486251048628
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155
Lis of Figures 852025
Preface 983089983089
Acknowledgmens 983089852019
983089 Inroducion 983089852021
983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023
he Imago Dei
852019 he Love of God 852020983090
he Saring Place
852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih
852021 Emoions 852024852019
Our Feelings
852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022
Our Social Connecedness
852023 Inellec 983089983090852023
Our Minds
852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089
Our Lie Purpose and Calling
852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016
Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025
Our Resources
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024
Our Ehical Living
983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023
Noes 983090852023852025
Subjec Index 852019852021983089
Auhor Index 852019852021852022
Scripure Index 852019852022852016
Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021
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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155
983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024
983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024
852019983089 he love of God 852020852020
852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020
852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024
852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022
852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025
852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025
852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019
852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090
983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089
983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016
983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020
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1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 5
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 534
C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155
Lis of Figures 852025
Preface 983089983089
Acknowledgmens 983089852019
983089 Inroducion 983089852021
983090 he Birhplace of Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983090852023
he Imago Dei
852019 he Love of God 852020983090
he Saring Place
852020 Spiri 852022852022Our Faih
852021 Emoions 852024852019
Our Feelings
852022 Relaionships 983089852016852022
Our Social Connecedness
852023 Inellec 983089983090852023
Our Minds
852024 Vocaion 983089852021983089
Our Lie Purpose and Calling
852025 Physical Healh 983089852024852016
Our Bodies983089852016 Sewardship 983090983089852025
Our Resources
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983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024
Our Ehical Living
983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023
Noes 983090852023852025
Subjec Index 852019852021983089
Auhor Index 852019852021852022
Scripure Index 852019852022852016
Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021
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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155
983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024
983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024
852019983089 he love of God 852020852020
852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020
852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024
852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022
852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025
852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025
852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019
852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090
983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089
983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016
983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020
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1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 6
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 634
983089983089 Formaion Synhesis 983090852020852024
Our Ehical Living
983089983090 Chrisian Spiriual Formaion Summary 983090852022852023
Noes 983090852023852025
Subjec Index 852019852021983089
Auhor Index 852019852021852022
Scripure Index 852019852022852016
Abou he Auhor 852019852022852021
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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155
983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024
983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024
852019983089 he love of God 852020852020
852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020
852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024
852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022
852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025
852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025
852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019
852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090
983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089
983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016
983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020
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1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134
852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 7
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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L983145983155983156 983151983142 F983145983143983157983154983141983155
983089983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion model 983089852024
983090983089 he imago Dei 983090852024
852019983089 he love of God 852020852020
852019983090 Imago Dei imago Chrisi and gloria Dei 852022852020
852020983089 Spiri and faih formaion 852022852024
852021983089 Emoional formaion 852024852022
852022983089 Relaional formaion 983089852016852025
852023983089 Inellecual formaion 983089983090852025
852024983089 Vocaional formaion 983089852021852019
852025983089 Physical healh formaion 983089852024983090
983089852016983089 Resource formaion 983090983090983089
983089983089983089 Ehical Chrisian living 983090852021852016
983089983090983089 Chrisian spiriual formaion and he world 983090852023852020
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1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 8
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 834
1048625
I983150983156983154983151983140983157983139983156983145983151983150
We are Godrsquos handiwork
creaed in Chris Jesus o do good works
which God prepared in advance or us o do
E983152983144983141983155983145983137983150983155 852018852017983088 983150983145983158
Te ceiling of he Sisine Chapel is one of he mos specacular arisic
maserpieces in human hisory983089 Composed of nine frescoes designed and
pained by Michelangelo beween 852017983093983088983096 and 852017983093852017852018 he ceiling depics scenes
from he book of Genesis including he Creaion o Adam he mos well
known Tis scene porrays he God of creaion and giver of life reaching
ou o ouch he finger of Adam Seemingly imeless he beauy and luser
of his and he oher frescoes including he Creaion o Eve ineviably
deerioraed
Trough he cenuries several resoraion effors have ensued o pre-
serve hese works of ar Te mos recen resoraion ook place beween
852017983097983096983088 and 8520179830979830971048628 Ceiling cracks srucural and waer damage he buildup of
smoke and waxy residue from burning candles auomoive exhaus from
he once-opened windows a he op of he srucure and he effecs of
housands of annual visiors increasingly compromised he frescoesrsquo un-
susainable beauy Wha ook four years o creae five cenuries ago re-
quired almos foureen years of resoraive work Te renovaed ceiling
however drew boh praise and criicism wih some bemoaning ha he
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1034
In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134
852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 9
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852017983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
original color and vialiy were los because of he misaligned echniques
uilized by he conservaors As well-inended as he conservaors were in
he resoraion process hey could no exacly replicae Michelangelorsquos
original work Creaion wheher in arwork or in human life is le in he
hands of is creaor and is virually impossible o duplicae
Alhough Michelangelo inended o porray he momen when God
infused life ino Adam he could no possibly depic he magnificen
miracle of life ha began a he momen of creaion (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983096) Te
mysery of creaion eludes even he mos careful observer and researcher
such as hose working on he hireen-year Human Genome Projec com-
pleed in 852018983088983088983091983090 Alhough scieniss have been able o idenify over weny
housand genes in human DNA he life-generaing subsance wihin cell
nuclei hey are unable o acually produce human life and uncover all is
corresponding inricacies as diligenly as hey may ry Despie wha is
known abou human anaomy and physiology God-given human capa-
biliy involving he muliple dimensions of he human person canno be
reduced o mere scienific discovery and evaluaion alone
For example as we have exceeded he seven billion world populaion
mark we acknowledge ha each human being is creaed in he image of
God wih unique DNA and ha all life direcly derives from God Bu like
he conservaors rying o resore he Sisine Chapel ceiling o is original
condiion only God can perfecly resore fallen humaniy ino wholeness
hrough he person of Jesus Chris he Son of God Only hrough he love
and grace of God manifesed by Chrisrsquos deah on he cross can we be re-
sored and begin a process of being conformed o Chrisrsquos image in order
o bring God glory in every dimension of life As Michelangelorsquos Sisine
Chapel was creaed in beauy experienced decay and was painsakingly
resored so oo humankind was fashioned by God in beauy experienced
decay hrough sin and has been resored in Chris for hose who believe
By responding o Godrsquos love and grace in he person of Jesus Chris we are
able o be conformed o Chrisrsquos image hrough he person and power of
he Holy Spiri
Tis book presens an inegraed approach in which o view he for-
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In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 10
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1034
In roducion 852017983095
maion and developmen of human persons from a disincly biblical and
heological perspecive Chrisian spiriual formaion (CSF) describes he
process of being resored ino he image of God hrough Jesus Chris in is
mulidimensionaliy by he work of he Holy Spiri Te fall of Adam and
Eve hrough he enrance of sin in he world corruped he perfec image
of God infused in humaniy a creaion Tis corruped image is resored
hrough Jesus Chris
As a resul of divine inen he love of God ha infused creaion is o be
received and reciprocaed (Ps 983091852017852018983091 M 852018852018983091983095-1048628983088) hrough fellowship wih
God (852017 Cor 852017983097) and ohers in he body of Chris (852017 Jn 852017983094-983095) and hrough
loving onersquos neighbor (M 852018852018983091983097) We glorify God by sewarding hrough
grace all life dimensions in order o be effecive ambassadors in a deeply
broken world (see Ps 9830911048628983091 852018 Cor 983093852018983088 852017 Pe 1048628852017983088) Tis process begins by
acknowledging ha Jesus died for our sins and paid he price for our eernal
salvaion and by receiving him hrough faih as our personal Savior and
Lord (Jn 852017852017852018 Acs 1048628852017852018)983091 Ten he resoraion process of being conformed
o he image of Jesus in order o glorify God begins in seven formaional
dimensions (852017) spiri (852018) emoions (983091) relaionships (1048628) inellec (983093) vo-
caion (983094) physical healh and wellness and (983095) resource sewardship Each
of hese dimensions will be briefly explained in his chaper
Te purpose of his book is o (852017) presen an inegraed approach o
Chrisian spiriual formaion in seven dimensions reflecing holisic ine-
graion (852018) biblically and heologically anchor CSF beginning wih an
analysis of he imago Dei (La ldquoimage of Godrdquo) as derived from he
Genesis creaion narraive and furhered by undersanding how Chris
became he image o whom we are conformed (983091) demonsrae ha re-
ceiving he love of God as expressed hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri is he caalyzing moivaion for CSF and (1048628) examine he seven
formaion dimensions and encourage auhenic growh in each of hem in
order o glorify God By wise sewardship of hese seven God-given human
dimensions hrough grace we boh reflec he imago Dei hrough godly
characer and ehical living and give God glory in he process Te CSF
model which unifies each chaper is presened in figure 852017852017
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1234
In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 11
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1134
852017983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
W983144983137983156 I983155 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
Troughou his book CSF will be uilized for describing an inegraed
approach o human formaion Te word Chrisian connoes ha all per-
sonal formaion flows from he person of God in Chris by he power of
he Holy Spiri For our purposes he word spiriual relaes o more han
simply he nonphysical and mysical componens of life lived in Godraher i is uilized o describe all dimensions o lie as influenced by he
Spiri Formaion refers o boh wha is formed and he manner in which i
is shaped983092 In oher words CSF advances a whole-person heology983093 Hence
imago
Dei
LOV E
e t h
i c a l l i v
i ng e t
h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v
i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v
i n g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c
a l l
i v i n
g
e
t h
i
c a
l l
i v i
n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
Figure 11 Christian spiritual formation model
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In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 12
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1234
In roducion 852017983097
Chrisian spiriual formaion connoes boh he process and he resul of
his shaping process For followers of Jesus he CSF process is fosered by
God ye we mus cooperae wih God for holisic growh o occur983094
Tereore CSF is defined as an ineracive process by which God he Faher
ashions believers ino he image o his Son Jesus hrough he empowermen o
he Holy Spiri by osering developmen in seven primary lie dimensions (spiri
emoions relaionships inellec vocaion physical healh and resource sew-
ardship) Trough refining he scope of CSF I offer hese seven life dimen-
sions because hey are universally shared across culures as being hose in
which he human person is boh inherenly endowed and capable of exer-
cising auonomy for personal growh and developmen983095 Furher for be-
lievers o be Chrisrsquos ambassadors (852018 Cor 983093852018983088) I argue ha hese seven
dimensions are inended by God o coalesce ino an ehical lifesyle ha
winesses o he unbelieving world of Godrsquos redeeming love
CSF is predicaed on believers receiving he abundan grace of God in
salvaion and hroughou life as hey are conformed ino he image of Jesus
(Eph 852017983095-983096 8520181048628-983093 852018 Pe 983091852017983096) Te imago Dei being creaed in he image of
God fundamenally derives from Godrsquos love for humaniy indicaed by
he inner circle in figure 852017852017 Te CSF model offers a graphic illusraion of
various dimensions of formaion wih he love of God as he primary
caalys demonsraed by Jesusrsquo deah on he cross Terefore he cener
circle in figure 852017852017 represens Godrsquos love as being he very core of CSF wih
he cross of Chris reflecing wha Sephen Seamands suggess as he
visible manifesaion of divine love ldquoChrisrsquos deah no only supremely
reveals he naure of divine love i also discloses wha is eernally eched
in he hear of he riune Godrdquo983096 Furher Juumlrgen Molmann assers ldquoTe
cross is he cener of he riniy Before he world was he sacrifice was
already in God No riniy is conceivable wihou he Lamb wihou he
sacrifice of love wihou he crucified Sonrdquo983097
Paul Fiddes simply saes ldquoGod creaes ou of loverdquo and as loving
Creaor wihou deficiency God desires reciprocal love from humankind983089983088
Accordingly in figure 852017852017 he seven bidirecional arrows which connec he
cener circle o he seven circles signifying he formaion dimensions rep-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 13
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
resen reciprocal love he love of God exended o humankind and hu-
mankindrsquos love response o God Te larger doted circle connecing each
of he seven circles signifies he inerrelaedness of each of he formaion
dimensions o one anoher Te solid ouer circle represening ehical
living conveys he ouward demonsraion of love o ohers framed
hrough onersquos godly characer for he glory of God
From he onse clarifying he definiion of godly love is imperaive as
love frames a cenral heme of his book Terefore I advance his defi-
niion Godly love is he essence o Godrsquos characer and personaliy proceeding
fom he Faher as demonsraed by he Son hrough he work o he Holy Spiri
which uncondiionally upholds he highes good o ohers and osers he same
alruism and benevolence in human relaionships wihou regard or personal
sacrifice983089983089 Tis definiion frames love as deriving from God he source of
all love who demonsraed cruciform love hrough he cross983089983090 Godly love
connoes being crucified wih Chris ye living for Godrsquos glory hrough
losing oneself for Chrisrsquos sake and he sake of ohers (cf Gal 852018852018983088) In oher
words godly love is he self-giving expression ha resuls from divine ini-
iaive and human responsibiliy in serving God and ohers in relaionaliy
as evidenced by godly characer and ehical living Each of he seven for-
maion dimensions derives from being creaed in he image of God as
predicaed on he love of God mos clearly revealed hrough Chrisrsquos sacri-
ficial deah on he cross and is demonsraed as believers express heir love
o God and ohers hrough CSF godly characer and ehical living
T983144983141 S983141983158983141983150 C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 D983145983149983141983150983155983145983151983150983155
God creaed man and woman holisically wih inheren capaciy in he
seven life dimensions Troughou ime and across culures hese seven
dimensions characerize human life and capure he poenialiy wihin he
human person Each formaion dimension inroduced will be furher ex-
plained in subsequen chapers Te inrinsic flow of he chapers proceeds
accordingly wih he prioriy of place given o formaion of he spiri
Formaion o he spiri relaes o our faih journey as he grace-based
ineracive process of nurure and growh of he human spiri as i is con-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934
852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 14
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1434
In roducion 852018 852017
formed o he image of Jesus and overseen by he Faher hrough he in-
dwelling Holy Spiri in he conex of he believing communiy983089983091 All oher
formaion dimensions predicae on he spiriual dimension
Emoional ormaion refers o he process of undersanding expressing
and reflecing on our feelings passions and desires in producive ways in
order o reflec he image and characer of Chris and come o erms wih
pas hurs wounds and bondages ha symie emoional freedom Emo-
ional formaion is inegrally ied o he spiriual dimension
Relaional ormaion relaes o how we are conformed coninuously ino
he image of Jesus hrough social ineracions and he life of he church
which invariably are embedded wihin culural conexs Relaional for-
maion influences boh spiriual and emoional formaion as well as he
oher dimensions
Inellecual ormaion concerns he developmen of he mind o hink
reason and discern ruh consonan wih he Word of God in order o
nurure godly beliefs and a Chris-honoring worldview ha reflecs bib-
lical knowledge wisdom and undersanding Inellec develops in con-
juncion wih he preceding hree dimensions
Vocaional ormaion involves he process of being conformed ino he
image of Jesus in our life calling hrough he developmen of God-given
giings alens abiliies and skills ha reflec he grace and glory of God
in life and work-relaed conexs A sense of life purpose involves he spir-
iual emoional relaional and inellecual life dimensions as hey inerac
across ime
Physical healh ormaion perains o he care of our physical bodies
which Paul idenifies as he emple of he Holy Spiri (852017 Cor 983094852017983097) in order
o maximize our effeciveness in fulfilling our life purpose Physical healh
underlies each of he preceding formaion dimensions We canno be fully
formed wihou aking ino consideraion he body which susains he
oher six dimensions
Resource ormaion relaes o he wise sewardship of he earh finances
maerial possessions and ime in order o bring maximum glory o God
Resource formaion expresses a confluence of he oher six dimensions
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852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934
852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 15
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1534
852018 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 I983150983156983141983143983154983137983156983145983151983150
Inerdisciplinary research reveals jus how inegraed our lives are across
hese seven vial dimensions For example spiriual growh is deeply af-
feced by our emoions and formaive inerpersonal relaionships If we are
angry wih God we would do well o explore wheher we are also angry
wih ohers Chrisian psychologiss aler us o he synergisic relaionship
beween he spiriual emoional relaional and inellecual dimensions983089983092
Furhermore medical docors coninue o idenify he inerconnecedness
beween our physical healh and spiriual life983089983093 Our physical healh and
wellness influence he six oher dimensions hrough life circumsances
personal choice or by defaul For example when we become sick or dis-
abled our physical condiion may hinder life-giving ineracions wih
ohers in relaional formaion In addiion our vocaional choices in-
fluence our relaionships Having a job ha misaligns wih our giing and
calling may promp us o feel depressed and desponden oward God and
ohers Simon Chan emphasizes he holisic naure of our overall devel-
opmen ldquoBoh body and mind have a par o play in spiriual developmen
and mus no be negleced in favor of he spirirdquo983089983094
Te inegraion of our formaion across hese seven dimensions espe-
cially came o ligh for me on hree separae occasions Te firs relaes o
a young woman I worked wih who had a genuine spiriual hunger and
passion for God ye was deeply affeced by debiliaing emoional and
menal illness Her devoional life in God was acive and growing bu she became coninually sidelined by unresolved emoional and family issues
which urned ino unpredicable behavioral paterns
Second a busy minisry leader once old me ha he finally realized ha
his obsessive overeaing and poor nuriional choices had creaed a sig-
nifican weigh problem Facing criical warning signs of impending de-
biliaion he admited ha acive sewardship of his physical healh had o
become a higher prioriyTird a Chrisian couple moved ino a new vocaional venure in he real
esae marke o make ldquolos of moneyrdquo When he venure began o crumble
during an economic downurn hey realized heir complee obsession wih
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934
852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 16
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1634
In roducion 852018983091
financial gain o he exclusion of oher criical life dimensions Tey even-
ually reprioriized heir lives around biblical values Each of hese examples
highlighs ha he seven formaion dimensions are inricaely inerwoven
and worhy of atenion Te following accoun provides a hisorical ex-
ample of how a life dedicaed o Chris is expressed hrough CSF
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 E983160983141983149983152983148983145983142983145983141983140
John Newtonrsquos (1725ndash1807) life personifies the integration of the seven ho-
listic dimensions identified in the CSF model For Newton receiving Christ as
his personal Savior through forgiveness of sin was only the beginning of the
multifaceted transformation in each of the seven formation dimensions that
altered his life trajectory While on board the British slave ship Greyhound in
1748 Newton experienced deep transformation after reading The Imitation
of Christ by Thomas agrave Kempis Ironically that same night a violent storm
lasting several days threatened to sink the ship While at the helm Newton
experienced a deep sense of conviction over his grievous wrongdoing and li-
centious lifestyle Following a bout with poor health his subsequent con-
version to Christ led to his retirement from the slave trade
While Newtonrsquos transformation was spiritual being reconciled to God
through the forgiveness of sin his transformation pervaded every di-
mension of his life His emotions aligned with noble passions and desires
His social connections were recalibrated to honor Christ For example
Newtonrsquos close relationship with William Wilberforce a member of the
British Parliament and ardent opponent of the slave trade promptedNewton to publicly protest against slavery on biblical and moral grounds17
His mindrsquos focus shifted to Kingdom endeavors His vocation changed from
being a slave trader to becoming an author and rector of an Anglican
church in London His physical health improved when his behavioral habits
changed And Newtonrsquos resources of money possessions and time were
distilled into a Christ-honoring lifestyle In glimpsing who Jesus was and
the great price Jesus paid for his soul Newton surrendered all dimensions
of his life to GodHumans are made in the image of God with potential to develop serve as
stewards of and maximize God-given resources for Godrsquos glory The CSF di-
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 17
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
mensions interdependently interact and frame our overall life and well-being
By growing in each formation dimension through grace we bring God glory
Godrsquos glory relates to the beauty and majesty of Godrsquos very essence18 To
glorify God is to give God respect awe and dignity which correspond to Godrsquos
supreme preeminence19 We give God glory when manifesting Godrsquos character
and waysmdashin what we say do think feel and lovemdashjust as John Newton did
after conversion We are to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor 1031)
Hence to bring God glory is to manifest something of Godrsquos essential nature
and character in onersquos life and relationships
T983144983141 P983154983151983139983141983155983155
For Chrisians he ulimae goal of CSF is o become more like Jesus in
order o reflec Godrsquos glory Jus as mos parens wan heir children o
resemble hem God also desires ha we grow ino he image of Jesus by
becoming like him Paulrsquos injuncion o he Ephesians o be imiaors of
God and o live in love succincly sums up CSF (Eph 983093852017-852018) As Jason Hoodexplains Paulrsquos view of imiaion wih an emphasis on conformiy o Chris
hrough he Holy Spiri does no convey ldquoroe mimicryrdquo or mindless
copying bu raher lies a he very hear of image bearing and he disci-
pleship journey983090983088 Human effor however is insuffi cien for he ask As
Michael Gorman conends imiaion of Chris reflecs ldquoChrisrsquos formaion
in believersrdquo no he resul of self-asserion bu raher of he Spirirsquos
working wihin o produce Chrislike characer983090983089 Tis holisic ransfor-maion hrough Godrsquos redeeming grace is why Jesus came o rescue fallen
humaniy As Godrsquos children we are nurured by a loving Faher hrough
he person of Jesus by he power of he Holy Spiri who in every way is
dedicaed o our overall growh and developmen Affi rming his develop-
menal process ino Chrislikeness he aposle John saed ldquoBeloved we
are Godrsquos children now wha we will be has no ye been revealed Wha
we do know is his when he is revealed we will be like him for we will seehim as he isrdquo (852017 Jn 983091852018)
John R yson acknowledges ha his ransformaion process akes
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In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734
983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934
983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 18
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1834
In roducion 852018983093
ime ldquoTere are few shorcus in he journey from being a sin-dominaed
person o becoming a spiriually empowered Chrislike person i is no a
journey ha is made quickly or easilyrdquo983090983090 Troughou he Gospels Jesus
beckons his disciples o follow him and become like him which is exacly
he focus of Tomas agrave Kempisrsquos classic work Te Imiaion o Chris In be-
coming more like Jesus God works wihin us over ime bu we also mus
respond o Godrsquos iniiaive Observing Godrsquos divine acion and human
agency Simon Chan argues ldquoTe lsquoauomaicrsquo frui accruing from Godrsquos
acion does no cancel ou human will raher God acs wihin human
aciviyrdquo983090983091 We have an essenial par o play in our own Chrisian formaion983090983092
A he same ime we mus acknowledge he sublime mysery of Godrsquos Spiri
working across he seven dimensions o fashion us ino he image of Jesus
ransformaion ino he image of Jesus begins wih surrender o God which
promps he Holy Spiri o fashion us ino Chrislikeness Tis way Jesus
becomes he primary model for he aciviy and change we desire
Te good news is ha a loving God wih abundan grace desires o mee
us righ where we are Asking God for grace o inersec our moivaions
and desires is he enry poin for deeper levels of ransformaion Grace is
he self-giving resource and gi from God ha provides favor and en-
ablemen o fulfill onersquos Kingdom purpose983090983093 Tis book addresses how
Godrsquos grace engages he hear will and acions in order o communicae
divine love and hereby glorify God hrough each formaion dimension as
evidenced hrough godly characer and an ehical lifesyle
Te various chapers in his book will appeal o Bible college and sem-
inary sudens Chrisian educaors minisry and pasoral leaders spiriual
direcors counselors and coaches and hose ineresed in fosering
personal and corporae CSF growh wihin he family and various voca-
ional conexs Chaper wo examines biblical and heological perspec-
ives relaive o he imago Dei in framing he CSF model Chaper hree
focuses on he compelling incenive for CSF hrough an analysis of he
riniy as characerized by he Faherrsquos love he Sonrsquos model and he Holy
Spirirsquos empowermen Chapers four hrough en respecively describe
each of he seven formaion dimensions in order o maximize personal
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934
852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 19
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 1934
852018 983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
growh in each area beginning wih he formaion of he spiri in onersquos
faih journey wih God Chaper eleven addresses ehical living hrough
he seven CSF dimensions as criical for godly characer and effecive
winess wih godly love presened as he highes virue Chaper welve
provides a summary of he CSF process and a call for a balanced approach
Prior o paining he Sisine Chapel ceiling Michelangelo resised he
inviaion o enac his massive underaking insising ha he was a sculpor
no a painer However he nine frescoes deailing scenes from he book
of Genesis are among his mos noable work Trough hem Michelangelo
graphically ariculaed he origin of Godrsquos grand narraive in an unsur-
passed visual maserpiece Our individual sories coninue o be pained
on he canvas of human hisory as God invies us on a developmenal
journey of ransformaion for Godrsquos glory (see Jn 852017983095852018852018 Rom 983093852018 852018 Cor
983091852017983096 852017 Tess 852018852017852018 852018 Pe 852017983091)
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1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 20
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2034
1048626
983144983141 B983145983154983156983144983152983148983137983139983141 983151983142
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 S983152983145983154983145983156983157983137983148 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Wha deermines onersquos being is he image one adops A983138983154983137983144983137983149 H983141983155983139983144983141983148
W983144983151 I983155 M983137983150
Anyone who has been a par of he childbirh process knows wha an in-
credible miracle i is I have had he privilege of playing a supporive role
in he childbirh process of wo dear friends Even more imporan were
heir husbands who lierally and figuraively sood by hem offering verbal
encouragemen expressing heir love ending o heir needs and praying
for hem in beween labor pains In boh cases he hear moniors indi-caed feal disress prior o delivery signaled by fading hearbeas Boh
obsericians recognized he imporance of promp delivery o avoid pos-
sible long-erm consequences Forunaely boh babies were delivered nau-
rally ino he world wih searing screams o announce heir healhy debus
As expeced he husbands quickly idenified heir babyrsquos gender Ten
hey and heir wives observed he babyrsquos characerisics similar o heir
own including hair color and facial feaures Alhough physical feauresoffer immediae sources of comparison parens soon discover ha heir
babies have personaliies disposiions emoions minds (and oen srong
ones a ha) and a capaciy o form relaionships wih hem and ohers
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
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1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 21
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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852018 983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
Ideally Chrisian parens desire ha heir children grow in all formaional
areas in order o ulimaely become godly and responsible aduls Te
human birhing process demonsraes he resul of creaive genius in fash-
ioning human life in Godrsquos image
Tis chaper begins by focusing on Godrsquos making human persons in he
imago Dei as depiced in he shaded cener of he Chrisian spiriual
formaion (CSF) model in figure 852018852017 Aer reviewing he creaion nar-
raive relaive o he imago Dei I presen four heological and hisorical
perspecives highlighing he naure of human creaion and Jesus as he
perfec imago Dei which in urn informs he developmen of he CSF
e t h
i c a l
l i v i ng e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h i c a
l l
i
v i
n
g
e t h i c
a l
l i v i n
g e t h i c a l l i v i n g
e t h
i c a
l l i v
i n g
e
t
h i
c a
l l
i v i n g
Emotions
Spirit
Relationships
Intellect
PhysicalHealth and Wellness
ResourceStewardship
Vocation
imago
Dei
L O V E
Figure 21 The imago Dei
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
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983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 22
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 852018 983097
model In summary he origin of Chrisian spiriual formaion derives
from Godrsquos making humans in he imago Dei followed by Chrisrsquos re-
deeming work on he cross as he ulimae expression of love for fallen
humaniy and he Holy Spirirsquos ongoing empowermen o live a godly life
We begin a he beginning
T983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Chrisian radiion humanness has as is origin Godrsquos making human
persons in Godrsquos image as refleced in he biblical creaion narraive
Genesis 852017852018983094-852018983095 reveals ha God made humankind in Godrsquos image no as
a random endeavor bu as an inenionally creaive demonsraion of Godrsquos
loving genius ldquoTen God said lsquoLe us make humankind in our image ac-
cording o our likeness and le hem have dominion over he fish of he
sea and over he birds of he air and over he catle and over all he wild
animals of he earh and over every creeping hing ha creeps upon he
earhrsquordquo983089 God as originaor of life spoke creaion ino exisence However
God deliberaed before making humans signified in Genesis 852017852018983094 (ldquoLe us
make humankind in our imagerdquo) and Genesis 852018983095 (ldquohen he L983151983154983140 God
formed he man from he dus of he ground and breahed ino his nosrils
he breah of life and he man became a living beingrdquo) Alhough all cre-
aion has is origin in God only humankind is made in Godrsquos image
Several biblical scholars and heologians commen on hese passages
W Lee Humphreys noes ha ldquowe firs mee God as sovereign designer of
a finely ariculaed cosmos wih is lines of auhoriy separaions and dis-
incions and is hierarchy fully defined (Gen 852017852017ndash8520181048628a)rdquo983090 Claus Wes-
ermann observes ha God made a concered decision o creae human
beings which was neiher casual nor haphazard983091 Nohing exised before
God and all ha was creaed was by Godrsquos iniiaive Furher Gerhard von
Rad concludes ha he creaion of humankind signifies he epiome of
Godrsquos creaiviy over all nonhuman creaion evidenced by he rifold rep-
eiion of he word make in Genesis 852017852018983095983092 As Creaor God sands alone as
he single iniiaor of all creaion and is dynamism983093
In Genesis 852017852018983094 we noice he plural grammaical consrucion of ldquole usrdquo
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2334
983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534
983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 23
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2334
983091983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
and ldquoin our imagerdquo reflecing uniy wihin Godrsquos inheren naure983094 Some
view his pluraliy as a descripion of he riniy whereas ohers ascribe
his pluraliy o heavenly beings ha surround God983095 Alhough various
inerpreaions have been offered o explain his pluraliy Anhony
Hoekema generally concludes ha he pluraliy ldquobrings ou he uniquenessrdquo
of humankind such ha ldquoin connecion wih no oher creaure is such a
divine counsel menionedrdquo983096 Human beings are no o form God ino heir
image bu raher o conform o Godrsquos image983097
Te exac meaning of he word image has been debaed wih muliple
inerpreaions offered Gordon Wenham noes ha he rariy of he word
and he uncerainy of is eymology make he inerpreaion chal-
lenging983089983088 Did God creae humans o be an imiaion of Godrsquos characer
and naure Godrsquos represenaives on earh or Godrsquos counerpar
Raymond Van Leeuwen sees each as a valid inerpreaion and Eugene
Merrill noes ha he wordrsquos meaning is deermined by he inerpreaion
of he preposiions in or as (ie ldquoin his imagerdquo or ldquoas his imagerdquo)983089983089 Four
primary perspecives on he inerpreaion of he image are offered laer
in his chaper
Commenaors noe ha a linguisic analysis of he words image and
likeness makes litle disincion beween he erms bu raher reinforces
heir parallelism983089983090 For example Derek Kidner commens ldquoTe words
image and likeness reinforce one anoher here is no lsquoandrsquo beween he
phrases and Scripure does no use hem as echnically disinc expres-
sions as some heologians have donerdquo983089983091 Hoekema observes only a sligh
nuance beween boh words in ha he Hebrew word for image (selem)
derives from he roo word ha means ldquoo carverdquo or ldquoo curdquo I can herefore
mean a carved likeness of an original Te word for likeness (demu ) de-
rives from a Hebrew roo meaning ldquoo be likerdquo How humaniy is like God
as ldquoan image ha is like usrdquo is no specific or explicily idenified983089983092 In es-
sence we learn ha God exiss in relaionship hrough a pluraliy as Elohim
and ha we have been made in Elohimrsquos image
From he Genesis 852017ndash983091 narraive general saemens can be inferred in our
atemp o undersand wha his image and likeness generally comprise
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534
983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 24
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091 852017
Firs man and woman are like God in ha hey are Godrsquos represenaives
on earh having been made in Godrsquos image (Gen 852017852018983094-852018983095) Second man
and woman are like God in having dominion over he earh (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096-
983091983088) Tird hey are like God in ha being creaed in Godrsquos image enails
being male and female capable of companionship and procreaion as
social beings (Gen 852017852018983095 852018852018983091-8520181048628) Fourh humankind being fashioned in
he image of God implies he capaciy for relaionship wih and respon-
siveness o God (cf Gen 852018852017983093 983091983096-852017983091)983089983093 Alhough some may asser ha
humankind los he image of God as a consequence of he fall he res of
Scripure paricularly he New esamen indicaes ha alhough he
image of God in humaniy was corruped during he fall i was resored in
Chris I argue herefore ha he creaion of humankind in he imago Dei
is holisic in naure as presened in he nex secion
C983144983154983145983155983156983145983137983150 F983151983154983149983137983156983145983151983150 983145983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
In Genesis 852017ndash983091 we can race he foundaions of all seven CSF dimensions
Te formaion of Adam and Eve creaed in he image of God as inegraed
beings enails a physical body spiriual endowmen emoions relaional
capaciy inelligence vocaional propensiy for work capabiliy for
physical healh and wellness and he abiliy o be sewards of hemselves
Godrsquos creaion and God-given resources God did no assemble hu-
mankind in piecemeal fashion incremenally adding o heir physical
bodies he capaciy for spiri emoions relaionships inellec and sew-
ardship Raher God creaed Adam and Eve by infusing hem wih an in-
egraed holisic capabiliy983089983094
Firs and foundaionally God creaed humankind wih spiriual ca-
paciy as evidenced in Adam and Eversquos inimae relaionship wih God in
he Garden Tis relaionship radically changed as a resul of he fall be-
cause of disobedience which had profound consequences on he human
spiri Second human emoion is also eviden in he creaion narraive
demonsraed when Adam and Eve fel compleeness pleasure desire fear
shame and suspicion Teir emoions were real raw and observable Tird
he relaional dimension of human formaion is unmisakably apparen in
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 25
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2534
983091 852018 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
ha hey were creaed o be in inimae relaionship wih God and each
oher Fourh inellecual formaion is refleced in Godrsquos fashioning Adam
and Eve wih hinking reasoning and decision-making abiliies For ex-
ample Adam named all he animals (Gen 852018852018983088) Adam and Eve made he
decision o ea he forbidden frui (Gen 983091983094-983095) and boh decided o hide
from God (Gen 983091983096) Fih God fashioned Adam and Eve vocaionally o
end he Garden of Eden (Gen 852018852017983093-852017983094 852017983096) Te boundary of heir calling
o work was he perimeer of he garden Sixh Adam and Eve had all nec-
essary elemens for physical healh formaion as God abundanly pro-
vided everyhing hey needed for wellness giving hem seed-bearing
plans frui from rees and all he oher resources found in animals (Gen
852017852018983097-983091983088) Las heir resource formaion was likewise provided for in ha
hey were o serve as sewards of he land which offered provision for all
heir needs (Gen 852018852017983093)
God made man and woman as inegraed beings G C Berkouwer con-
ends ldquoScripurersquos emphasis on he whole [person] an as he image of
God has riumphed ime and ime again over all objecions and opposing
principles Scripure never makes a disincion beween [humankindrsquos]
spiriual and bodily atribues in order o limi he image of God o he
spiriual as furnishing he only possible analogy beween [persons] and
Godrdquo983089983095 Te creaion of man and woman reveals holisic dynamism Te
nex secion presens four hisorical and heological perspecives on he
imago Dei ha inform he CSF model
F983151983157983154 P983141983154983155983152983141983139983156983145983158983141983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
o beter undersand how formaion derives from he creaion narraive
four hisorical and heological perspecives of he imago Dei wihin he
Chrisian radiion are offered as a concree saring place983089983096 Humankindrsquos
capaciy in he dimensions of he spiriual emoional relaional inel-
lecual vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship
are evidenced in hese four perspecives giving credence o heir inclusion
in he CSF model Te imago Dei reflecs humankindrsquos capaciy for
(852017) hinking and reasoning (852018) inerpersonal relaionships (983091) dominion of
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 26
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2634
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983091
he earh and (1048628) becoming furher resored ino Godrsquos image hrough he
sancificaion process as no only a presen realiy bu also a divine goal
and desiny Douglas John Hall assers ha he heme of he imago Dei
poins o ldquohe mysery of human ideniy ha mus be rediscovered by
each generaion of he believing communiyrdquo983089983097 While he conribuions
of church heologians inform our conemporary undersanding of he
imago Dei in hisorical perspecive I affirm Hallrsquos call for an ongoing dis-
covery of he unexamined dimensions of being creaed in Godrsquos image983090983088
While each of he four perspecives idenified presens a unique inerpre-
aion in he developmen of he imago Dei in Chrisian radiion I argue
ha none of hem presens a fully orbed undersanding of he human
person as my subsequen analysis of each perspecive atess983090983089 Terefore
I conend for an inegraed approach o undersanding he imago Dei ha
advances a more robus consideraion of he mulidimensionaliy of
human flourishing ha is no limied o any single hisorical inerpreaion
Perspective 983089 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity to think and
reason Tis perspecive is referred o as he srucural view wih he imago
Dei signifying humankindrsquos qualiies ha reflec Godrsquos reasoning abiliy
Early church fahers such as Irenaeus (852018983088852018) Clemen of Alexandria (c
852017983093983088ndashc 852018852017983093) Ahanasius (c 852018983097983094ndash983091983095983091) Gregory of Nyssa (c 983091983091983093ndashc 983091983097983093) and
Augusine of Hippo (9830919830931048628ndash1048628983091983088) framed heir parisic heology around
being made in Godrsquos image as he unique abiliy o reason unlike non-
human creaion Influenced by Greek philosophers such as Plao and Ar-
isole Irenaeus primarily ascribed he image of God as human raionaliy
Irenaeus is credied wih differeniaing he image of God and he likeness
of God mainaining ha humans reained Godrsquos image aer he fall bu
los Godrsquos likeness because of disobedience Likewise Clemen primarily
conneced he imago Dei o human reason and Ahanasius viewed hu-
maniy in he imago Dei as being a raional soul as did Gregory of Nyssa
David Cairns summarizes his view ldquoIn all he Chrisian wriers up o
Aquinas we find he image of God conceived of as manrsquos power of reasonrdquo983090983090
Lain church faher Augusine of Hippo developed an inerpreaion of
his srucural view of he imago Dei as being humankindrsquos capaciy for
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983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
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8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
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983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 27
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2734
983091 1048628 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
memory inellec and will corresponding o remembering undersanding
and loving which reflec he riniy Augusine argued ha humankind
was creaed wih reason and inelligence o excel above all he creaures of
he world and ha hey have he capaciy o know and love God983090983091 Sanley
Grenz observes ldquoFor Augusine hen he sea of he divine image in he
human person is he soul in is inellecual dimension insofar as he goal
of he image is knowledge of Godrdquo in andem wih he love of God983090983092 Sup-
poring Augusinersquos posiion Aquinas furher linked he divine image o
raionaliy or he inellecual capabiliy of humaniy Te inellecual di-
mension feaured in he CSF model derives from his perspecive
However as imporan as he srucural view of he imago Dei is human-
kindrsquos inheren poenialiy goes beyond he inellecual dimension Iner-
esingly Augusinersquos grea influence in undersanding he imago Dei came
under criicism in he Reformaion period and wih good reason Humans
are sufficienly complex in oher dimensions For example human dimen-
sionaliy and growh are angibly demonsraed hrough human emoion
Terefore limiing he imago Dei exclusively o he inellecual dimension
is insufficien as i ignores he mulidimensionaliy of he human person
including he emoional domain which is included in he CSF model
Perspective 983090 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos capacity for relationship
Following he Middle Ages he Reformaion era offered a second per-
specive in undersanding he imago Dei Based on his proclamaion of
jusificaion by faih alone for salvaion Marin Luher (8520171048628983096983091ndash8520179830931048628983094) chal-
lenged medieval hinking ha humans could achieve knowledge of God
on heir own hrough raionaliy Insead he assered ha all powers o
know God are found ouside of hemselvesmdashwihin God alonemdashhrough
relaionship wih God Luher argued ha if humankindrsquos inheren capaciy
o know God were rue hen Saan was creaed in he image of God since
he has naural capaciy for memory inellec and will Alhough Luher
readily admited ha he endowmens of reason inellec and voliion
derive from God he assered ha he image of and likeness o God were
los hrough sin and only could be resored in Chris hrough he vehicles
of he Word of God and he Holy Spiri983090983093 Some have suggesed ha Luher
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2834
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934
983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 28
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2834
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983093
viewed he imago Dei as original righeousness ha was los in he fall983090983094
Oher Reformers such as John Calvin (852017983093983088983097ndash8520179830939830941048628) conribued o his
relaional view of he imago Dei According o David Cairns Calvin more
han anyone else since Augusine developed he sronges perspecive on
he imago Dei983090983095 Grenz highlighs Calvinrsquos cenral posiion ldquoIn drawing ou
his cenral meaphor Calvin emphasized he dynamic aspec of he imago
dei he divine image consiss of he acual ac of mirroring Godrdquo983090983096 For
Calvin he fall desroyed he image of God in humaniy bu resoraion
came in Chris as he second Adam and as he incarnae Word of God
Humans are o mirror or reflec he divine wihin heir soul and body
hrough Godrsquos grace by being in righ relaionship wih God
Karl Barh (852017983096983096983094ndash852017983097983094983096) likewise ied his undersanding of he imago Dei
o a relaional view by highlighing he male-female dynamic in human
creaion as disincive Barh applies he relaional I-Tou inerpreaion of
Marin Buberrsquos works and Dierich Bonhoefferrsquos inerpreaion of Genesis
852017852018983095 o he biblical reference of ldquomale and femalerdquo in humankindrsquos rela-
ionship wih God and wihin all human exisence Barh encapsulaes his
perspecive ldquoTe relaionship beween he summoning I in Godrsquos being
and he summoned divine Tou is refleced in he relaionship of God o
he man whom He has creaed and also in he relaionship beween he I
and he Tou beween male and female in human exisence iselfrdquo983090983097 Tis
relaional view of he imago Dei dominaed several oher Proesan wriers
such as Soslashren Kierkegaard Paul Ramsey (a proeacutegeacute of Kierkegaard) and
Emil Brunner983091983088 Furher human relaionships bespeak social affecions
ha involve emoions983091983089 God creaed humankind wih relaional and emo-
ional capaciy wo of he seven idenified formaion dimensions
Te hisorical developmen of he imago Dei is indebed o Reformaion
and conemporary heologians who buil upon he srucural view of he
imago Dei and highlighed humankindrsquos relaional capaciy in mirroring
he divine image As criical as his relaional view of humankind is I argue
ha his sole inerpreaion fails o address a fully orbed perspecive on
human dimensionaliy Alhough Luher and Calvin argued ha he righ
ordering of reason would posiion he human person o know and love
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934
983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 29
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 2934
983091983094 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151 983150
God and ha he los image can be resored in Chris by he Word of God
and he Holy Spiri he Reformers fell shor of a robus undersanding of
he imago Dei ha is he poenial in all primary life dimensions univer-
sally shared across human hisory God creaed humankind wih capaciy
for vocaion formaion physical healh and wellness and resource sew-
ardship Tis leads o he hird perspecive of he imago Dei
Perspective 983091 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos dominion over the earth
A hird perspecive relaed o he imago Dei is referred o as he funcional
view recognizing he empowermen of humankind o superinend he
earhrsquos resources and creaures as evidenced in Godrsquos direcive in Genesis
852017852018983094-983091983088 In Genesis 852017852018983096 God said o Adam and Eve ldquoBe fruiful and muliply
and fill he earh and subdue i and have dominion over he fish of he sea
and over he birds of he air and over every living hing ha moves upon he
earhrdquo (ialics added) As espoused by many Old esamen scholars he
dominion perspecive views humankind as superinending all of he non-
human world earhly life and is insiuions including poliics educaion
and he ars983091983090 In fac Douglas John Hall applies his dominion inerpre-
aion o an onological ehic for human sewardship of creaion posiing
ha divine sovereigny in creaion is o be me wih human responsibiliy for
is governance983091983091 Te dominion perspecive correlaes wih he hree for-
maion dimensions of vocaional physical healh and wellness and resource
sewardship ormaion I argue ha dominion he responsibiliy of caring for
he earh implies vocaional and resource sewardship wihin he conex of
physical healh and wellness Terefore vocaional formaion physical healh
and wellness and resource sewardship are included in he CSF model
While he dominion perspecive of he imago Dei is implici in he
Genesis creaion narraive (Gen 852017852018983094 852018983096) regarding Godrsquos inen for hu-
mankind o care responsibly for creaion predicaed on Godrsquos original
mandae o work and care for he garden (Gen 852018852017983093) oher dimensions in-
cluding he spiriual dimension remain unaddressed Few would argue ha
humaniy lacks spiriual capaciy From where is his spiriual dimension
derived if no from God who made humankind o reflec Godrsquos image and
glory in he world Te fourh perspecive relaes o spiriual dimension
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 30
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3034
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983095
Perspective 983092 Te imago Dei as humankindrsquos divine goal and destiny
Sanley Grenz views he imago Dei as a divinely given goal or desiny ha
anicipaes presen ransformaion for fuure eschaological fulfillmen983091983092
God in Chris is he ulimae model o whom we aspire and hrough him
over ime we become increasingly conformed ino Godrsquos likeness in he dephs
of our spiriual naures God has creaed humans wih capaciy o desire God
and wih he poenial o achieve he goal of becoming increasingly more like
Jesus hrough a variey of facors as overseen by Godrsquos providence
Tis divine goal was Paulrsquos passion for he churches he planed For ex-
ample Paul longed o see Chris formed in he lives of he Galaian be-
lievers (ldquoMy litle children for whom I am again in he pain of childbirh
unil Chris is formed in yourdquo [Gal 1048628852017983097]) and spoke of his shaping process
by he Spiri o he church in Rome (ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he
migh be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo [Rom 983096852018983097]) Paul spoke of
he Corinhian believers being ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness wih
ever-increasing glory by he Spiri which is an ongoing process over ime
(852018 Cor 983091852017983096) Te word ransormed (Gk meamorphoo) comprises wo
Greek words mea meaning ldquowihrdquo ldquoamongrdquo or ldquoaerrdquo and morphe
meaning ldquoformrdquo983091983093 o be ransformed ino Chrisrsquos likeness is o be changed
ino anoher form namely his Tis perspecive of he divine goal or desiny
primarily relaes o ormaion o he spiri he foundaional dimension which
gives purpose o he oher six
o summarize hrough he cenuries he imago Dei has been seen in
erms of humankindrsquos capaciy o (852017) hink and reason he inellecual di-
mension (852018) forge relaionship hrough emoional conneciviy wih God
and ohers (983091) assume dominion over he earh hrough vocaional capaciy
physical healh and wellness and resource sewardship and (1048628) become more
like Jesus spiriually over ime which is humankindrsquos goal and desiny
Raher han a single view of wha i means o be made in he image of God
I argue for a mulidimensional approach which a firs glance appears ab-
srac and nonspecific Each of he four perspecives of he imago Dei finds
expression in he CSF model As we shall see he unique mission of Chris
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 31
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3134
983091983096 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151 983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
as he ulimae fulfillmen of he imago Dei leads o our fracured ideniies
being resored in fullness as we receive Chris as Savior ( Jn 852017852017852018) and
Godrsquos abundan grace (Eph 852017983094-983096) CSF herefore is clearly cenered in our
being made in he image of God in Chris
C983144983154983145983155983156 983156983144983141 P983141983154983142983141983139983156 I983149983137983143983151 D983141983145
Whereas he imago Dei was corruped in he fall of humaniy (Gen 983091) he
image was renewed hrough Chrisrsquos redempion983091983094 Chris is clearly de-
piced as he perfec imago Dei in he New esamen983091983095 Tus Chris is he
perfec image of he Faher given as a gi o believers who are redeemed
hrough faih by his blood and who are coninuously conformed ino
Chrisrsquos image by grace (852018 Cor 983091852017983096) As a resul he image of Chris as re-
newed wihin believers moves from individual expression o ha of a re-
deemed communiy of faih983091983096 Trough he church he resoraion of he
imago Dei also has an ecclesial aspec983091983097 Te church as he body of Chris
reflecs Chrisrsquos image o he world Exploring he concep of image in he
New esamen links he imago Dei o Chris
Te New esamen counerpar of he Hebrew word selem which
means ldquoimagerdquo is eikon Te word eikon suggess ldquowha compleely corre-
sponds o he lsquoprooypersquordquo or he ldquoperfec reflecion of he prooyperdquo983092983088
Several auhors affirm his conenion For example Rober Louis Wilken
assers ha he imago Dei canno be fully undersood wihou reflecing on
Chris he perfec image of God983092983089 In concer Grenz saes ldquoTe New es-
amen wriers declare ha ulimaely he imago dei is Chris and by ex-
ension he new humaniy consising of hose who hrough union wih
Chris share in Chrisrsquos relaionship o God and consequenly are being
ransformed ino he image of God in Chrisrdquo983092983090 By his relaionship o
Chris male and female become ldquohe new humaniyrdquo in ldquorelaionaliy of
persons in communiyrdquo983092983091 Furher ldquohe pahway beween humankind as
male and female and he imago dei leads ineviably hrough he church as
he prolepsis of he new humaniy and he relaional self is ulimaely he
ecclesial selfrdquo983092983092 We are formed hrough relaionships wih ohers including
hose wihin he church Chris hen is he divine image o which human
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 32
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3234
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 983091983097
beings are o aspire individually and corporaely as members of he body
of Chris Because sin corruped he perfec image of God in humaniy
Chris provided he resoraion of he image ha was los in he Garden and
foreshadowed an eernal glory ye o come We are o demonsrae he life
of Chris hrough godly characer and ehical living in holisic andem
Several New esamen passages direcly associae Chris wih he divine
image of God Romans 983096852018983097 saes ldquoFor hose whom he foreknew he also
predesined o be conformed o he image of his Son in order ha he migh
be he firsborn wihin a large familyrdquo Wih Jesus being he perfec image of
God he Faher Hoekema suggess ha being conformed o he image of
Jesus is ldquohe purpose or goal for which God has predesined his chosen peoplerdquo
which will no be fully acualized unil he life o come983092983093 Grenz concludes
ldquoTe humankind creaed in he imago dei is none oher han he new humaniy
conformed o he imago Chrisirdquo983092983094 In oher words Jesus is he perfec image
ha humankind los during he fall bu hrough whom humankind now is
alive wih poenial for resoraion hrough redempion and is capable of ho-
lisic growh ino he image of Chris All seven holisic formaion life dimen-
sions are o come under his lordship
In 852018 Corinhians 983091852017852018-852017983096 Paul conrass he old covenanmdashin which
Moses veiled his face o keep he Israelies from seeing he fading glory of
Godmdasho he unveiled glory of Chris refleced in believersrsquo lives hrough
he new covenan Paul wroe ldquoAnd all of us wih unveiled faces seeing
he glory of he Lord as hough refleced in a mirror are being ransformed
ino he same image from one degree of glory o anoher for his comes
from he Lord he Spirirdquo (v 852017983096 ialics added) According o Paul he goal
of our lives is ransformaion ino Chrisrsquos likeness by he power of he
Holy Spiri
Te concep of he image of God personified in Chris is explici in
852018 Corinhians 10486281048628 and Colossians 852017852017983093 In 852018 Corinhians 10486281048628-983094 Paul defends
his aposolic auhoriy and explains why some rejeced his message ldquoIn
heir case he god of his world has blinded he minds of he unbelievers
o keep hem from seeing he ligh of he gospel of he glory of Chris who
is he image of Godrdquo (ialics added) In applying imagery of ligh shining
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 33
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3334
1048628 983088 C 983144 983154 983145 983155 983156 983145 983137 983150 S 983152 983145 983154 983145 983156 983157 983137 983148 F 983151983154 983149 983137 983156 983145 983151983150
ou of darkness ha links Godrsquos glory wih Chris Paul seems o harken
back o he creaion narraive (Gen 852017983091-1048628) and possibly his own conversion
experience (Acs 983097983096-852017983096)983092983095 C K Barret furher elaboraes on Chris being
he very image of God ldquoAs he image of God he [Chris] is he place where
God himself he invisible is knownrdquo983092983096
In Colossians 852017852017983093-852017983095 Paul provides an apologeic for Chris being su-
preme above all creaion as he perfec imago Dei
He is he image of he invisible God he firsborn of all creaion for in him
all hings in heaven and on earh were creaed hings visible and invisible wheher hrones or dominions or rulers or powersmdashall hings have been
creaed hrough him and for him He himself is before all hings and in him
all hings hold ogeher
Chris is clearly porrayed as preeminen over all creaion as he ldquoimage of
he invisible Godrdquo According o F F Bruce ldquoChris is presened as he
agen of God in he whole range of his gracious purpose owards he
human race from he primeval work of creaion hrough he redempionaccomplished a hisoryrsquos mid-poin on o he new creaion in which he
divine purpose will be consummaedrdquo983092983097 Bruce furher commens ha ldquohe
very naure and being of God have been perfecly revealedmdashha in him
[Chris] he invisible has become visiblerdquo983093983088 On he use of he Greek word
eikon in Colossians 852017852017983093 Arhur Pazia observes ldquoChris paricipaes in and
wih he naure of God no merely copying bu visibly manifesing and
perfecly revealing God in human formrdquo983093983089
Chris is he perfec imago Dei and we are o be conformed o his image
In Colossians 852017852017983097-852018983088 Paul specifically addresses Gnosic heresies con-
ending ha Chris is preeminen and adequae for salvaion as he perfec
imago Dei ldquoFor in him all he fullness of God was pleased o dwell and
hrough him God was pleased o reconcile o himself all hings wheher on
earh or in heaven by making peace hrough he blood of his crossrdquo o Paul
having he fullness of Chris means having access o all of he Faherrsquos powersand atribues In similar fashion Paul wries o he Colossian believers ldquoFor
in him he whole fullness of deiy dwells bodily and you have come o fullness
Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world
Page 34
8122019 Christian Spiritual Formation by Diane J Chandler
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchristian-spiritual-formation-by-diane-j-chandler 3434
he Birhplace o Chrisian Spiriual Formaion 1048628 852017
in him who is he head of every ruler and auhoriyrdquo (Col 852018983097-852017983088) Paul makes
clear ha hose who are in Chris have access o he fullness of God wih all
his residen power which assiss believers o pu off he sinful naure making
hem alive in Chris (vv 852017852017-8520171048628) In ligh of believers being creaed in he image
of God Paul exhored he Colossian church o be mindful of heir conduc
one o he oher ldquoDo no lie o one anoher seeing ha you have sripped off
he old self wih is pracices and have clohed yourselves wih he new self
which is being renewed in knowledge according o he image of is creaorrdquo
(Col 983091983097-852017983088 ialics added) In our renewed and resored selves in Chris Paul
affirmed ha we reain he image of God (cf Eph 10486288520181048628)
Likewise Hebrews 852017983091 affirms Chris as he perfec image of God ldquoHe
is he reflecion of Godrsquos glory and he exac imprin [Gk charaker ] of
Godrsquos very being and he susains all hings by his powerful wordrdquo Te
Greek word charaker connoes a samp or seal ldquoin which case he seal or
die which makes an impression bears he image produced by i and vice
versa all he feaures of he image correspond respecively wih hose of
he insrumen producing irdquo983093983090 In Hebrews 852017983091 charaker is used meaphor-
ically o describe he Son of God Te Son of God no only bears he image
of he Faher bu also is he exac impress of he Faherrsquos essence983093983091 As
Hoekema noed ldquoI is hard o imagine a sronger figure o convey he
hough ha Chris is a perfec reproducion of he Faher Every rai
every characerisic every qualiy found in he Faher is also found in he
Son who is he Faherrsquos exac represenaionrdquo983093983092 Unlike sinful humaniy
Chris is he perfec image of God wihou being ained by sin
Having briefly surveyed he imago Dei heme from he Genesis narraive
a hisorical perspecive and he New esamen we clearly observe he
divine inen in making man and woman in Godrsquos image he fracured
image ha resuled from he fall and Godrsquos redeeming grace inviing all o
be resored hrough faih in Chris who is he perfec imago Dei Chaper
hree describes he limiless love of God hrough he Faher Son and Holy
Spiri as he impeus for undersanding and enacing growh in CSF Te
process occurs in each of he seven dimensions in order o glorify God
hrough godly characer in ehical congruence as ambassadors in he world