What is Imago Dei and How Does Artistry Reflect It?
I’m honored to share this piece—with her permission—written by my daughter, Anna Nantz, during her college years as part of a course project. Her words have inspired me time and again, reminding me of the sacred connection between our creative gifts and our Creator. I hope her insights will resonate with you as deeply as they have with me—whether you’re a writer, an artist, or simply a creative at heart.
When we observe the known universe, it’s easy to see a divine imprint on all of creation. The mark of a Creator is evident in every living thing: plants, animals, and humankind.
In Genesis 1:26–27, the Bible clearly outlines humanity’s uniqueness compared to the rest of creation:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Imago Dei is a Latin phrase meaning “the image of God.” It signifies the unique connection between God and humankind, as well as the rest of creation. While it reflects God in all things, it grants a special likeness to humans. Many aspects of humanity mirror God—His mark on us didn’t vanish after the Fall. Though we lost our ability to maintain holiness in God’s sight, our divine purpose was never lost.
Humanity tends to stray from that intended purpose, often measuring success by our own abilities rather than what God can do. After the Fall, we became spiritually distant. Although Satan tempted Eve and caused humanity’s downfall, the uniqueness with which God formed us remains impossible to erase. All of creation, broken as it is, testifies to God’s existence. His image is forever woven into the very fabric of our world. The complexity of our universe reflects a Creator and displays aspects of His character. Job 12:7–10 beautifully explains nature’s role in declaring God’s presence:
“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”
Beauty is yet another evidence of God’s image in creation. We see Him in the intricacies of nature and in the beauty humans craft with their hands. Ecclesiastes 3:11 shows God’s role in the beauty of creation:
“He hath made everything beautiful in His time: also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
Though the beauty of this earth is unmatched, our ability to create beautiful things can itself be an act of worship—an acknowledgment of the Creator. Whether or not the artist intends it, every beautiful and good thing reflects God’s image to a lost world. Our capacity to create is an intrinsic, God-given quality rooted in the Imago Dei. We create because we come from the Master Creator. What else would compel early artists to dedicate decades to crafting a single masterpiece? Would anyone, without this innate drive, devote themselves to making art in a world they believed had no higher purpose? This desire to create is a direct gift from our Creator. It is precious to Him.
In Exodus 31:1–3, we read about Bezaleel, the first recorded artist in the Bible and the first person described as being filled with the Spirit of God for his creative work:
“And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”
Our ability to marvel at creation is a special facet of being human. Late apologist Ravi Zacharias, in Jesus Among Other Gods, wrote:
“Wonder blasts the soul—that is, the spiritual—and the skeleton, the body—the material. Wonder interprets life through the eyes of eternity while enjoying the moment, but never lets the moment’s revision exhaust the eternal.”
How true this is. When we appreciate God’s awesome imprint in creation, we catch a glimpse of eternity. It reminds us that the beauty and pleasures we experience now are only previews of what awaits us in Heaven.
What sets us apart in bearing God’s image? We have an intrinsic ability to see beyond our immediate reality. We can stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon and be awestruck by its majesty, something the rest of creation cannot do. A cow, for instance, cannot appreciate a sunset, but humans can, because God’s creative nature is imprinted on us.
By the same token, this is why art is so essential for Christians. Art offers a chance to reflect God’s greatness in detail, with the hope that nonbelievers might come to recognize their own value in the eyes of the Creator. Our sense of wonder and our yearning for beauty both flow from an innate understanding of what creation was meant to be—a glimpse of the perfect eternity for which we were originally designed.
Within this context, creativity stands out as the element of the Imago Dei most relevant to discussions of Christianity and the arts. It’s a quality that matters deeply to everyone, artistically inclined or not. Creativity allows scientists to formulate theories and artists to paint masterpieces—and it reflects our Creator’s own inventive nature. Genesis 1:1 underscores the significance of creativity:
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Using our creative talents is one of the most effective ways to bring about radical change as believers. The creative arts are a primary means through which culture is shaped and influenced. As Andy Crouch once stated, “the only way to change culture is to create more of it.” If that is true, we should aim not only to make beautiful things but also to leave a lasting impact on our culture.
God is the ultimate Creator—the one and only original Artist. Every time we create something beautiful, we reflect His image. Creativity cannot exist in a vacuum; it relies on a standard for what it means to create well. Exodus 35:35 tells us that God specifically bestows artistic skill:
“He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.”
It is vital for Christians to embrace and develop our creative instincts. We are meant to be a light in the world, and that includes the realm of the arts. We should strive for excellence, knowing we have a deeper understanding of why we create in the first place. As Francis A. Schaeffer writes in Art and the Bible, “The Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars.”
Our artistry will naturally reflect the Imago Dei if it is good and true. Philippians 4:8 applies here:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
This perspective is what ought to distinguish Christian art from that of the wider world. However, it does not mean all art must be overtly spiritual. We often say, “All truth is God’s truth,” and this applies to the arts, as well. Any piece of art embodying truth, wonder, creativity, and beauty brings glory to God and reveals His image in us—whether or not that was the artist’s conscious intention.
Ultimately, reflecting on the Imago Dei in our creative work is a powerful reminder that our gifts are not ours alone. They point us back to the Master Creator and invite others to glimpse His glory. Whether you’re already immersed in the arts or simply appreciate beauty wherever you find it, I hope these thoughts have encouraged you to see your own God-given creativity for the blessing it is—both to you and to those around you.
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