Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God

by John F. Kilner

Misunderstandings about what it means for humans to be created in God's image have wreaked devastation throughout history -- for example, slavery in the U. S., genocide in Nazi Germany, and the demeaning of women everywhere.

In Dignity and Destiny John Kilner explores what the Bible itself teaches about humanity being in God's image. He discusses in detail all of the biblical references to the image of God, interacts extensively with other work on the topic, and documents how misunderstandings of it have been so problematic.

People made according to God's image, Kilner says, have a special connection with God and are intended to be a meaningful reflection of him. Because of sin, they don't actually reflect him very well, but Kilner shows why the popular idea that sin has damaged the image of God is mistaken. He also clarifies the biblical difference between being God's image (which Christ is) and being in God's image (which humans are). He explains how humanity's creation and renewal in God's image are central, respectively, to human dignity and destiny.

Locating Christ at the center of what God's image means, Kilner charts a constructive way forward and reflects on the tremendously liberating impact that a sound understanding of the image of God can have in the world today.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Anthropology, Christianity, Faith

414 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2015

Reviews

[Carmen Imes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an immensely helpful book based on meticulous scholarship. Kilner argues persuasively that the image of God is not a capacity but a status, and that it was not lost or destroyed at the Fall. He contends that this is essential for ethics, since our treatment of others depends on our seeing their dignity as people made in God's image.

Jesus is the true image of God, and humans realize their full potential as people made in the image to the degree that we conform to Christ. He models our destiny as we are transformed into his likeness.

With copious foonotes, Kilner surveys the history of scholarship on this issue and argues carefully in areas where others have been hasty in their conclusions. This book is a gift to the church!

[Tim Michiemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 Stars

"Dignity and Destiny" by John F. Kilner is a recent treatment of the theological concept of the imago Dei. This theological concept teaches, from Genesis 1:27, that all humanity is created in the image of God. The imago Dei has become more widely used and referred to as of late in theological and anthropological discussion. Kilner’s book attempts to address this theological concept and warn of many dangers.

The main thesis of Kilner’s book is that the image of God is not rooted in attributes that humans currently have but is based upon the destiny of every human being. He explains that in Christ we see the perfect image of God, for He is the only one who truly represents God’s image perfectly. But in Christ we also see humanity’s destiny as it pertains to imaging God. In a sense, the image of God is eschatological, since it foreshadows the future glorification that those who trust in Christ will receive. As well, Kilner argues that the image of God has not been marred or diminished by sin. Although humanity’s ability to fulfill God’s image has been marred by sin, the image itself has not been marred. The image of God remains even amid humanity’s sin and depravity.

Kilner spends a significant amount of time showing some of the dangerous implications of believing that the image of God is rooted in present human attributes. His first chapter devotes a large amount of space to show how the image of God concept has been abused and used to oppress others. As well, Kilner explains in detail how attributes like reason, righteousness, and relationship are all good but cannot be the primary source of us being in the image of God. If so, then anyone who does not rightly display these attributes (i.e. disabled person, prisoner, abuser, etc.) can be considered less in the image of God. Kilner argues that what can happen when the image of God is rooted in present attributes is that humans tend to replace Biblical attributes with what attribute is culturally popular at the time.

In his conclusion, Kilner works out many of the implications of the image of God being rooted in humanity’s destiny. He applies the imago Dei to issues like abortion, racism, and women. Of note is Kilner’s argument that human rights can only be founded in the concept of the image of God. Apart from the image of God, human rights can become excuses for selfish assertions. But if it is grounded in the image of God our human rights are not only governed by God, but they are also modeled by God who shows us what true humanity looks like (loving, service, condescension, etc.).

The strength of Kilner’s books is its polemical emphasis. Dignity and Destiny does build a model of the imago Dei, but its strength is that it deconstructs very faulty views of the imago Dei. His central argument that the image of God cannot be based upon present attributes in humanity and has not been marred by sin is a strong argument that he defends vigorously.

But the weakness of this book was it is writing – this book simply needs more editing. Kilner’s writing style is what kept me from giving this book over 4 stars. The main issue was that he repeated the central points of his book way too many times and defended them ad nauseam. Many of his chapters could have been 1/4 shorter. As well, Kilner internally referenced his work way too many times, using “see chapter ___” way too often. What was particularly surprising was Kilner’s use of “see below” at the end of a sentence to anticipate an explanation in the next paragraph. I have never seen an author use “see below” to reference the very next paragraph since it is assumed that if you are explaining a point the next sentence or paragraph will be a further explanation. This use of “see below” was very distracting at points.

All in all, this was a good book that thoroughly treated the concept of the imago Dei. There is great meat in this book for the theologian, pastor, and layman alike. But for many, some of the quirks of the writer may get in the way. Hopefully, in years to come, Kilner will come back to this book to rewrite a second edition that will be a lot easier to read.

https://loveaboundinginknowledge.word...

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super dense but insightful analysis of what it means for humanity to be made "in the image of God" and the continuity of this concept through the Bible. Kilner makes a cogent argument for the image of God in humans being undamaged, despite the fallenness of our human nature due to sin, and upholds that the image of God is a 'status' of connection to God that assures our dignity, and a 'standard' which attests to our intended destiny of reflecting God's glory. This destiny is recognised in Jesus Christ who "is the image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15), and in whom whose who have faith will be renewed (Col 3:10), conformed to (Rom 8:29), and transformed into (2 Cor 3:18). The results of such a theology are quite affirming and astounding, and the conclusion brings much of these to the fore. A weakness of the book is its lack of definition for 'dignity', and almost negligent engagement (p.315) with related concepts of 'value' or 'worth' within the Bible (e.g. Rom 3:12); 'dignity' is sometimes treated as a foregone conclusion rather than addressed directly. However, the through-line of dignity and destiny is compelling and I would recommend this book

[Mark Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kilner presents a strong and clear message: the image of God in people is not lost or damaged. People are lost and damaged, but that doesn't change their status and dignity as made in God's image. Being in God's image entails connection and reflection. All people have a special connection with God, and God intends that all humans (individually and corporately) would reflect his attributes in the world.
As an ethicist, Kilner is concerned about the practical impact of our understanding of the image of God. That is why he so emphatically and repeatedly stresses (against many other voices) that the image of God is not about having specific human attributes such as reason, righteousness, rulership, or relationality. Such a view implies that those who lack those traits or capacities thereby lack the image of God or have it to a lesser degree. Rather, the image is the unchanging standard of what human life is intended to be, as embodied in Christ. Christ is the unchanging image. People are made "according to" the image and made to reflect the image. This grounds our dignity, and it also defines our destiny, since, in Christ, we can be transformed and conformed to the image of Christ, so that we display the attributes that reflect God and his glory.
Kilner's book is lucid and comprehensive, but also quite repetitive. It could easily have been two-thirds of the length without losing any content. He probably could have even shaved a couple pages just by eliminating the constant references to other parts of the book: "As explained in Chapter..." But the flipside of his thoroughness is a copious and detailed set of footnotes that will point scholars and students to a wealth of relevant sources dealing with every topic he touched on in the book!
We can be grateful for Kilner's thoughtful and passionate contribution to this subject borne out of his own deep thought, study, and concern for the dignity and destiny of every human life!

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really helpful correctives on how we think about the image of God. Kilner labors to distinguish between the image of God (Christ) and what it means for humans to be made in the image of God. The two definitional themes he comes to again and again is connection and reflection. All humans, being made in God’s image, have a connection to God and are created to reflect the image of God. This is to be distinguished from traditional ways of defining humanity’s image bearing status by certain attributes or abilities (Kilner shows that this rout is pretty problematic and potentially dangerous). Christ’s project with new humanity is to restore this connection fully, and to be the standard and enabler of new humanity’s continual reflection of God’s image.

All good stuff. But I don’t think I truly understood the term “ad nauseam” until I read this book. “Ok, I get it” was pretty much hanging on my lips the entire time I read this book. Hence the three stars.

[Emily Holladay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for a class I am teaching on human dignity. While I found it instructive in many ways, I also found the book overly repetitive. In regards to the “destiny” portion of the book, I also felt as though the author was contradicting himself and his understanding of image of God in all humanity. For a book published in 2015, I found it did very little to relate the image of God theology to 21st Century culture in which Christians have failed to behave as people created in the image of God and therefore have contributed to the rise of “spiritual but not religious” and other categories of people who are working towards godly attributes, but don’t recognize God because they have not seen God reflected through Christians.

[Richard Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most compelling and original works on the Image of God. Kilner's impeccable research bears witness to his idea that the Image of God rests in the image of Jesus Christ and remains unaffected by the fall of humanity. Kilner's contribution demands for a review of Christian interaction in society in light of the importance of the Image of God. Retrieving the primacy of the Image of God, especially humanity's image in Christ, can open new avenues for faithful witness in an ever changing society.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a magnum opus from a major scholar, and is a strong theological contribution to understanding the doctrine of the image of God. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would, not because I think the work is unfaithful in any way, but because at times Kilner overstates his case. He argues that, biblically, Christ is the image of God and human beings are only created in or according to that image. Thus the image in Scripture is not damaged - people are, and they must be renewed according to Christ's image. But Kilner then critiques vast swathes of the historic theological tradition for failing to make this distinction, and then allowing human dignity to be compromised. I'm not persuaded by all the indictments he makes - some are valid, some seem a stretch (when an error in theological definition is the cause of racism, sexism, and environmental degradation, one wonders if the complexities of history are being oversimplified). And I think the Reformed tradition has, in its better forms, made the same affirmations Kilner makes: humans intrinsically have dignity, but also require renewal to reach their created potential. The "broad/narrow" understanding of the image in theologians like Bavinck could well capture this distinction.

Perhaps one way to say it is that Kilner faults the tradition for making "image" a technical term that has more precise and more expansive boundaries than the Scriptural usage...but doesn't acknowledge that the same affirmations he wants to "get" from a precise reading of "image" have been affirmed by the tradition under a different name.

Still, these are small critiques: the book is magisterial, and completely right in its main affirmation: human beings have both a tremendous dignity and a glorious destiny because of God's intentions in Christ.

[Samuel Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

John F. Kilner’s Dignity and Destiny is one of those rare theological works that manages to be both academically rigorous and profoundly human. It doesn’t just explore a doctrine it restores its meaning, beauty, and moral power. The subject, humanity in the image of God, has been discussed for centuries, but Kilner approaches it with clarity, balance, and deep reverence for Scripture.

What struck me most was how the book unpacks centuries of misunderstanding surrounding the imago Dei. Kilner shows, with painstaking care, how distortions of this concept have justified horrific injustices from slavery to genocide to gender inequality. Yet he never lets the reader sink into despair; instead, he offers a redemptive vision grounded in Christ.

Kilner makes a powerful distinction between being God’s image (a role fulfilled by Christ) and being in God’s image (our human vocation). This theological nuance reshapes how we understand human dignity not as something earned or lost through sin, but as something permanently anchored in God’s creative intention. His insistence that sin distorts but does not destroy the image of God offers a breathtakingly hopeful perspective on humanity’s worth.

Despite its scholarly weight, the book remains accessible and engaging. Each page feels purposeful, leading toward a clearer understanding of how our identity, destiny, and moral responsibility flow from our reflection of the divine.

For readers of theology, biblical studies, or anyone wrestling with what it means to be human in light of faith, Dignity and Destiny is indispensable. It’s intellectually rich, spiritually stirring, and ethically urgent a book that could reshape how we view every person we encounter.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

*for my imago dei paper

The doctrine of the imago Dei is a most quoted yet abused one. Kilner offers a richly theologically, exegetical, and anthropological account of the doctrine for what it is, what is not, and how it has been used in either direction.

Kilner's engagement with Scripture and historic/modern theologians is masterful, bringing with his handling powerful practical and ethical implications in race, gender, and disability theology.

This is an invaluable contribution, for which I take away much. Some include:
- dispelling the notion that it is the image, not the human, which sin diminishes.
- lament of justifications and baptisms of racist, sexist, and other discriminatory practices via mishandling of the imago Dei.
- thorough renderings of certain attributes, including rationality, relationality, righteousness, and rulership (to which I may add, reliance).

It's a hard and dense read though. 4.5

[Caleb Sturgis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Creation in God’s image entails a special connection with God and an intended reflection of God. Renewal in God’s image entails a more intimate connection with God through Christ and an increasingly actual reflection of God in Christ, to God’s glory. This connection with God is the basis of human dignity. This reflection of God is the beauty of human destiny. All of humanity participates in human dignity. All of humanity is offered human destiny, though only some embrace and will experience it. Christ and humanity, connection and reflection, dignity and destiny—these lie at the heart of what God’s image is all about" (xi)

Very helpful book.

[Ben Fredrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my thinking, and I suspect it will change my behavior. Few books have had that effect on me. The book unpacks what the Bible means when the phrase "in the image of God" is used to describe God's connection with humans, both individually and corporately. It's a bit dense, but the author is contending at times with major Christian thinkers over the past 2000 years, so he needs to be very careful with his assertions.

[Stephen Bedard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very comprehensive look at the image of God in the Bible. While I like his focus on Christ as the true image of God, I do disagree with his conclusion that image does NOT mean we share some of God's attributes. Still there is much good in this book.

[Kevin Fulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book argues that all of humanity is made in the image of God and that that image is undamaged by sin.
Some of the arguments are harder to follow than necessary.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is important work on the Biblical concept of the Imago Dei, It truly could be considered the reference work on the Image of God. Nearly 70 pages of reference sources and at least a third of each page are the footnotes and explanation of John F Kilner, who is the endowed Franklin Forman Chair of Christian Ethics at Trinity International University. As the church librarian with little background in Christian doctrine, I found it to be a very hard read, it is a reference work for the serious student. Many misunderstandings about what it means to be created in God's image have wreaked devastation throughout history, and this author tackles every one of the major events in history and their relation to this study.

People from the beginning of time have tried to place themselves in God's place and role the world, whether it is to justify slavery, or find fault in imperfect people like women, disabled, different cultures, native cultures. These attempts of sin to dispose people to dispose other by placing themselves in the "Image of God". Romans 8:29 stated that "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, and that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

What a thought provoking study. I wish I had the background to appreciate this fine work. It was interesting as far as I could understand it.

[Will Cunningham-Batt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost every review of this book points out how long and repetitive the writing is, and they are not wrong! But Kilner tackles some big ideas (Why Christ is the image of God, while we are made in the image of God; why we haven’t lost the image of God after the Fall; why the image is both a present reality and a future goal) and contributes a great deal to our understanding of the imago Dei. To my mind, however, the main fault of the book is that it argues too often from what Scripture does not say, rather than what it does. Someone like Peter Gentry (a Hebrew scholar) has done this, with a closer reading of Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 5:1-3, but doesn’t explore the topic as theologically as Kilner (a Christian ethicist) does. The two would make good conversation partners.

For a condensed summary of the book, see Tony Reinke’s interview/article with the author (it will save you time): https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/...

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been drawn to the idea that all people are made in the image of God. It was great to read someone who has put a lot more thought and study into that concept than me. The short version is that when people understand this concept correctly, meaning that all humans carry with them the imprint of the divine that makes them inherently valuable, then it makes them empathetic and respectful of other humans, interested alleviating suffering and oppression, etc. When people understand this concept incorrectly, meaning that humans possess attributes of God to a less degree such as righteousness, reason, etc., then we are willing to justify incredible oppression and even violence on those who we do not believe possess those attributes in measures that make them our equal.

[Eli Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you would like to read my 7 page review of this book, email me at eliprice16@gmail.com