Reading Report - Images of the Spirit

1. The Glory-Spirit and His Human Image
Kline’s basic premise is that the imago Dei or the image of God is best understood by seeing the theophanic Glory of God or the Holy Spirit as being present at the time of creation. Not only was the Spirit present at creation, but was the archetypal Glory of God which gave the image of God, man, a life-giving breath in his physical body. Consequently the image likeness that man derives from the Creator-Spirit is shown by scripture to be like a son deriving his image from his father. Finally we see that not only is man made in the image of God, as in a reproduction, but also in the glory-likeness as in a reflection of the original Glory of God.

2. A priestly Model of the Image of God
Being made holy and being set apart God uses both a architectural structure and human form in which to dwell and show forth his Glory. First we see this in the construction of the tabernacle, being made in the likeness of the garden as God’s dwelling place. Once again the Glory-cloud, like at creation with the Garden fills the tabernacle to seal it as the Spirit-temple. Now the priests were set apart to bear the vestments of the tabernacle and to display the Glory-cloud upon and within them. Finally as a seal upon the people of God, his Glory-cloud fills them and covers over them with the image of God as a covenant sign upon their hearts, their very likeness and their reflection of his glory borne out in the imago Dei.