Creation Quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“I can never know beforehand how God’s image should appear in others. That image always manifests a completely new and unique form that comes solely from God’s free and sovereign creation. To me the sight may seem strange, even ungodly. But God creates every man in the likeness of His Son, the Crucified. After all, even that image certainly looked strange and ungodly to me before I grasped it.”
About This Quote
Divine likeness is not a fixed image but a fresh, mysterious manifestation of God's creative freedom, sometimes appearing strange to human eyes.
In simple terms: God’s image in people is uniquely new and can seem odd.
Key Takeaway
God creates each person uniquely, reflecting divine mystery.
Themes
theology
divine creativity
human uniqueness
spiritual perception
Mood
wonder
humility
reverence
Type
theological reflection
spiritual insight
When to use this quote
- encountering someone whose faith differs
- contemplating personal identity
- interfaith dialogue
- artistic representation of the divine
Key Concepts
imago dei
free will
sacred mystery
Practical Applications
- embrace humility when judging others
- seek deeper understanding of each person's spiritual portrait
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing each person’s unique divine imprint affect our relationships?
- Can we ever truly know God’s intention behind a particular human form?
A Different Perspective
The claim that all humans reflect the likeness of the Crucified may overlook diverse theological perspectives on divine image.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
