The Imago Dei and the Indwelling Spirit

Abstract

Charismatic theology has engaged little with the concept of the imago Dei and has sometimes emphasized eschatology over creation. This article reconsiders views on the imago Dei in light of the concept of divine presence, building on notions of intensification and suggesting the concept of activation. I propose that as God breathes his Spirit into the first humans and pours out his Spirit on all flesh, a primary way in which we image God is by manifesting his divine presence in the world. Through the indwelling Spirit (a structural aspect of the imago Dei that is activated through belief in Christ), we are united with God the Father and one another (relational aspects of the imago Dei) and enabled to exercise responsible dominion over creation (a functional aspect). Thus the Spirit at creation is continuous with the Spirit at Pentecost.