"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." — Genesis 1:27 (KJV)
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." — Psalm 139:14 (KJV)
The beauty industry tells women they are raw material to be improved. Scripture tells a different story — one that begins in the image of God and ends in glory. This study reclaims the theology of the body.
Imago Dei — The Image of God
The Hebrew phrase "image of God" (צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים, tselem Elohim) is one of the most profound statements in all of scripture. You were not assembled from raw material and declared adequate. You were created in the image of the living God.
This means your worth is not determined by your appearance, your productivity, your relationships, or your cultural moment. It is determined by your Creator, who stamped His image on you before you drew your first breath.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
The Hebrew word for "fearfully" (יָרֵא, yare) carries the sense of awe-inspiring, reverently made. "Wonderfully" (פָּלָא, pala) means set apart, distinguished, extraordinary. David is not saying he is merely adequate. He is saying his creation was an act of God's artistry.
You are not a project to be improved. You are a creation to be stewarded.
Study Questions
1. How does the concept of Imago Dei change the way you think about your own body and appearance?
2. Where have you absorbed the message that you are "raw material to be improved"? How has that shaped your relationship with your own body?
3. What would it look like to steward your body as a creation of God rather than a project to be perfected?