Note 7 at 1Co 11:7: What a shadow would be to man is what man is to God. Just as a shadow does not perfectly express all the facts concerning man, neither does man perfectly express all the facts concerning God. Nevertheless, the shadow does project an image of the man and indicates a truth concerning him. So it is with God and man.

There are many expressions of the image of God within man. This image of God does not consist of a bodily physical likeness. This is quite clear from several scriptures: "The image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15, emphasis mine); "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible" (1Ti 1:17, emphasis mine); and "God is a Spirit...for a spirit hath not flesh and bones" (Joh 4:24 with Lu 24:39, emphasis mine). So, the terms "image" and "likeness" (Ge 1:26) do not refer to the physical nature of man.

One of the ways we are created in the image of God is the fact that we are spirit beings. "God is a Spirit" (Joh 4:24), and the spirit is the real, life-giving part of us (Jas 2:26). Through our spirits, we can commune with God (Joh 4:24).

Because of the fall of man, mankind must once again be restored in spirit in order to function and commune with almighty God. As proof of this absolute necessity of a new birth in spirit, Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (Joh 3:6-7, see note 2 at Joh 3:3).

Mankind also expresses themselves as the image of God by their ability to do what no other creature is capable of doing; that is, to be finite creators. People's ability to imagine and fantasize causes them to reconstruct their environments mentally and bring forth physically that which their minds have pictured. As finite creators, they can only create out of matter that has already been created by the infinite Creator.

Man's finite creativity is expressed in many forms--music, instruments, drama, dancing, singing, poetry, psalms, etc.

God is the infinite Creator who has brought forth creation with form, order, color, and smell for His own pleasure (Re 4:11). Man responds to this by feeling this beauty, wanting to reproduce it, and so fulfilling the likeness of the Creator.

Note 8 at 1Co 11:7: Vine's Expository Dictionary interprets the Greek word "DOXA," translated "glory" twice in this verse, as meaning "man as representing the authority of God, and of woman as rendering conspicuous the authority of man." That is to say that man reflects God's authority and the woman reflects man's authority. Women, as a part of mankind, have direct authority from God. In physical matters in the home, however, God gave man the greater authority.