In this study, I argue the Spirit of the Lord was always meant to reside in humanity having been made in His Image in order for the creative process of humanity to reach its full potential.
Traditional approaches to interpreting the imago deo include the ontological, relationships and/or reasoning of humanity, and the functional, humanity as God’s representative, and while each of these offer instructive interpretations, they can fail to fully incorporate the telos of faith which is the transformation of fallen humanity into glorified children of God. To make its case, the presentation begins with a word study of tselem and its wider use in the ANE. Then, prophecies in the Old Testament regarding God’s promise to send His Spirit will be examined to establish God’s desire to inhabit His people and the effects of His inhabitation. It will then examine this promise fulfilled in the New Testament concluding with the charge of Christians to “walk in the Spirit” in light of being “filled with the Spirit.” Last, while the presentation is primarily an exercise in biblical theology, it must be noted the interpretations offered developed from historical theology. Support from the Early Church Fathers, primarily Gregory of Nazianzus, will be included where appropriate in order to establish a relatively forgotten aspect of soteriology—namely, the glorification of humanity, or theosis. Ultimately, theosis is the culmination of the restored and fuller imago dei which God intended for mankind since Creation.