Note 7 at 1 Cor. 11:7: What a shadow would be to a 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 person 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); "Now unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible" (1 Tim. 1:17); "God is a Spirit...for a spirit hath not flesh and bones" (Jn. 4:24 with Lk. 24:39). So, the terms "image" and "likeness" (Gen. 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 a spirit being. "God is a Spirit" (Jn. 4:24) and our spirit is the real life-giving part of us (Jam. 2:26). Through our spirits we can commune with God (Jn. 4:24).

After the fall of man, man 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" (Jn. 3:6-7; see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92).

Man also expresses himself as the image of God by his ability to do what no other creature is capable of doing, that is to be a finite creator. Man's ability to imagine and fantasize causes him to reconstruct his environment mentally and bring forth physically that which his mind has pictured. As a finite creator he 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 that has brought forth creation with form, order, color, and smell for His own pleasure (Rev. 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 1 Cor. 11:7: W. E. Vine interprets the Greek word "doxa" that was translated "glory" twice in this verse as "man...representing the authority of God, and of woman 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. But in physical matters in the home, God gave man the greater authority.