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"glory" (John 17: 5), and it was the subject of Satanic opposition, as we learn from
Ezek. 28: It was "shadowed forth" in the creation of man, and attacked by the
Serpent in the garden of Eden as explained in II Cor. 3: & 4:, and is the goal towards
which the purpose of the ages is directed. The central section of Romans (5: 12 - 8: 39)
opens with Adam, a failing figure of Him that was to come, and closes with the goal of
God's great purpose: "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8: 29).
The climax of revelation in connection with "the Image" is found in Colossians:
"His dear Son . . . . . Who is the Image of the Invisible God" (Col. 1: 13-15).
"When Christ Who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory
. . . . . and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of
Him that created him" (Col. 3: 4, 10).
Here, both in Col. 1: and 3:, the "image" is connected with creation. Moreover,
Col. 1: 16 makes it clear that the Son was the Creator of Gen. 1: 26, and that Adam
foreshadowed in some way yet to be considered, "Him that was to come", "the last
Adam".
Returning to Gen. 1: 26, we must now consider the added clause "after our likeness"
(demuth). The LXX Version translates this by kath homoiosin, which we may compare
with the Apostle's use of the word when speaking to the Athenians in Acts 17::
"Forasmuch, then, as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the
Godhead is like (homoios) unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device"
(Acts 17: 29).
Isaiah also challenges us with the question:
"To whom then will ye liken (damah, see demuth above) God?" (Isa. 40: 18).
And Ethan says:
"Who in heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty
can be likened (damah) unto the Lord" (Psa. 89: 6).
Nevertheless it is true that man was made after the likeness of God, and in James 3:
we read, concerning the tongue:
"Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are
made after the similitude (homoioses) of God" (James 3: 9).
The prophet Hosea uses the word damah when speaking of the way in which God had
condescended to use figures of speech:
"I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets"
(Hosea 12: 10).