Imago Dei, dominium terrae, Missio Dei: 창세기의 인간 창조 서술에 대한 선교신학적 고찰

This paper examines the meaning of ‘the image of God’(imago Dei), which can be seen as the core of the human’s creation narrative of the Old Testament, in terms of both the theology of the Old Testament and the theology of Mission. The ‘image of God’ has traditionally been interpreted in an outward or inward sense. However, in the field of theology of the Old Testament it has recently been interpreted as ‘dominion over the earth’ (dominium terrae) based on the following two facts. Firstly, the context of Gen 1:26 shows this clearly. Secondly, the Hebrew word for ‘image,’ ‘zele’,’ etymologically means ‘figure’/‘statue’, and this concept was actually used in Ancient Middle East by the kings, who were posing as God’s representatives, as a means of visualizing the ‘Royal Ideology.’ On the one hand, ‘dominion over the earth’ appears in the Old Testament and in Ancient Middle East as a unilateral, violent reign over nature and animals. On the other hand, it can also be understood as a concept of preservation and care. In Gen 1:28, both these aspects are reflected. However, in regard to ‘actio Dei’ in the Old Testament itself as well as the ‘Persian Royal Ideology,’ which has emerged at a relatively late stage in Ancient Middle East, ‘dominion over the earth’ of Gen 1:28 can be seen as the peaceful dominion over nature. The fact that ‘dominion over the earth’ as a given human right is particularly related to the ‘image of God’ at the same time indicates that it must be characterized in accordance with ‘actio Dei’. As the Lord of all human beings and animals, ‘actio Dei’ reveals itself not only to bestow grace to all people and things and take care of them but also to ultimately give them salvation and to renew all creation. Therefore, the mission of the human being, who is called and sent to participate in ‘actio Dei’, that is the ‘dominion over the earth,’ which is given to all human beings created in the image of God, can also be considered the calling and sending for the participation in the ‘missio Dei.’