Concerning the meaning of “image” and “likeness” in Gen 1:26, Matthew Paulson noted that
Many theologians have concluded
that humans are image-bearers in several respects. Man was given a superior
intellectual structure with emotions that are similar God. (p. 91)
However, Paulson elsewhere wrote that
Some Mormons have serious problems
with the Westminster Confession of Faith from 1646, used by Presbyterians. This
creed teaches that there is one God manifest in three persons, all of “one
substance, without body, parts, or passions.” Of course, the Bible does describe
the emotions of God’s wrath and his sorrow, i.e. “Jesus wept.” Moody Bible
Institute graduate Philip
R. Johnson explains that these “passions” are described in the Bible are to
be recognized to be “ . . . as metaphorical, we must also confess that there
is something they do not mean. They do not mean that God is literally
subject to mood swings or melancholy, spasms of passion or temper tantrums. And
in order to make this very clear, Scripture often stresses the constancy of God’s
love, the infiniteness of his mercies, the certainty of His promises, the
unchangeableness of His mind, and the lack of any fluctuation in His
perfections. ‘With [God there] is no variableness, neither shadow of turning’
(James 1:17). This absolute immutability is one of God’s transcendent
characteristics, we must resist the tendency to bring it in line with our
finite human understanding.” (Ibid., 159-60)
Further Reading:
"Jesus
Wept": Obvious and Needs no Interpretation to Understand?
