While traditionally the emphasis on the image of God has been on the spiritual and moral dimensions, some theologians and scholars have argued that the physical makeup of humanity also reflects certain aspects of God’s design and purpose. This view considers the human body as intentionally designed to facilitate divine fellowship and to anticipate God’s ultimate plan of incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ.
Man’s Physical Body and the Image of God
Humanity’s Unique Physical Design
The physical characteristics of humans, as distinct from animals, demonstrate purposeful design by God for spiritual communion and divine representation. Morris H. M. in The New Defender’s Study Bible emphasizes specific features of the human body—such as upright posture, the ability to gaze upward, nuanced facial expressions, and articulate speech—that uniquely equip humans for divine fellowship and dominion over creation (Genesis 1:26–28). None of these traits are shared with animals in the same manner. The erect posture signifies humanity’s orientation toward God, both physically and symbolically, as beings capable of communion with their Creator.
Additionally, the brain and tongue’s capacity for articulate, symbolic speech underscores the intentionality of human design for conveying complex thoughts, emotions, and prayers. This ability reflects God’s own communicative nature, as seen throughout Scripture in His words of creation, revelation, and redemption.
Anticipation of the Incarnation
A significant aspect of this view is the assertion that the human body was designed in anticipation of the Incarnation. Morris, in The Genesis Record, notes that God foreknew His plan to assume human form in the person of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:20; Hebrews 10:5). Humanity’s physical structure was therefore created to mirror the form that the Son of God would one day assume. This is supported by Scriptures like Philippians 2:7, which describes Christ being “made in the likeness of men,” and Hebrews 1:3, where Christ is called the “express image” of God.
This anticipatory design underscores the harmony between creation and redemption. Just as man was made in God’s image, Christ would later reveal the fullness of that image in His incarnation, uniting the divine and human natures.
God’s Manifestations in Human Form
Throughout the Old Testament, God occasionally appeared in human-like forms (e.g., Genesis 18:1–2, where the Lord appeared to Abraham as a man). Angels, too, often appeared visibly in human form (Acts 1:10). These theophanies suggest that the human body has a unique appropriateness as a vessel for divine revelation and interaction. Morris suggests that God’s design of the human body, with its upright posture, expressive face, and communicative abilities, reflects His intention to use it as a means of self-revelation.
Reconciling the Spiritual and Physical Image
God as Spirit
Critics of the physical view argue that the image of God cannot include physicality since God is Spirit (John 4:24) and does not possess a corporeal body. This objection highlights the figurative nature of the term “image” in passages like Genesis 1:26. However, proponents of the physical view suggest that, while God is not bound by physical form, He designed the human body to reflect His capacities for action and interaction in the material world. For instance, God is described as seeing (Genesis 16:13), hearing (Psalm 94:9), and speaking (2 Peter 1:18). These anthropomorphic descriptions do not necessitate a physical body but illustrate that the human body is uniquely suited to reflect and embody these divine capacities.
Unity of Body and Spirit
Humanity is a union of body and spirit (Genesis 2:7), and the physical body is integral to human identity and purpose. While the spiritual aspect of the imago Dei—such as moral reasoning, creativity, and relational capacity—is often emphasized, the physical body is no less important. It serves as the instrument through which humanity fulfills its God-given mandate to steward creation (Genesis 1:28) and as a vessel for worship, prayer, and service.
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Image of God
In Christ, the physical and spiritual aspects of the imago Dei find their ultimate expression. Hebrews 1:3 describes Christ as “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,” uniting the divine and human in one person. As the “second Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), Christ redeems and restores humanity to its intended purpose.
The Human Form of the Son
When the Son of God took on human flesh, He validated the goodness and purpose of the human body. Hebrews 10:5 records Christ saying, “A body hast thou prepared me,” indicating that the human form was part of God’s eternal plan of redemption. In this sense, the physical body of Adam was a precursor to the body Christ would assume in the Incarnation.
Resurrection and the Eternal Body
The resurrection of Christ affirms the eternal significance of the human body. In the resurrection, believers will be transformed into glorified bodies, further reflecting the fullness of the imago Dei (1 Corinthians 15:49). This transformation demonstrates that God’s design for the human body was always intended for eternal purposes.
Summary of the Physical View
The physical view of the imago Dei provides a compelling perspective on the intentionality and foresight of God’s design in creating humanity. While God is Spirit and not bound by physicality, the human body uniquely reflects His capacities for relationship, communication, and manifestation in the created world. Furthermore, the anticipation of the Incarnation underscores the harmony between creation and redemption, affirming the eternal significance of humanity’s physical and spiritual nature. This view enriches our understanding of humanity’s role as image-bearers and points us to the ultimate fulfillment of this image in Jesus Christ.
If “before Abraham was, I AM” then Christ always looked Human. And we look like Christ. The image of God IS the physical image of Christ and the Angels.
Hello Benjamin,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), He was affirming His eternal existence and identifying Himself with the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14, where God said, “I AM THAT I AM.” However, this statement speaks to Christ’s eternal deity, not to an eternal human body. Scripture teaches that the Son existed eternally with the Father, but His human nature began at the Incarnation. As the Gospel of John explains, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In other words, the eternal Son took on a real human nature at a specific point in history.
The New Testament consistently describes the Incarnation as Christ taking on human likeness, rather than humans being modeled after His eternal physical form. For example, “[He] took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). This language suggests that the Son entered into the human condition rather than always possessing a human appearance. That said, some theologians—such as Henry M. Morris—have suggested that God may have designed the human body with the future Incarnation in view. While that idea is an interesting theological reflection, Scripture itself doesn’t explicitly say that Christ eternally possessed a human form.
It’s also important to remember that the Bible describes God as spirit. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Because of this, it seems most reasonable to understand the image of God in Genesis 1:26–27 to refer primarily to humanity’s spiritual, moral, relational, and rational capacities rather than to a physical resemblance. Our bodies are certainly part of God’s good design and play a vital role in how we live, communicate, and serve Him, but Scripture doesn’t directly define the image of God as a physical likeness.
Similarly, while angels sometimes appear in human form in passages like Genesis 18 or Acts 1:10, the Bible also describes them as “ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14). Their human appearance seems to be a temporary way of interacting with people rather than evidence that the divine image itself is a human shape.
Where the Bible places the strongest emphasis is on Jesus Christ as the perfect revelation of God’s image. The New Testament says that Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and “the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:3). Humanity was created in God’s image, but Christ displays that image perfectly. Through salvation, believers are gradually being renewed into that image as well (Colossians 3:10). So, while the human body is certainly part of God’s purposeful design—and the Incarnation affirms its goodness—the Bible ultimately points us to Christ Himself as the fullest and clearest expression of the image of God.