The Bible’s Key to Understanding: Imagination and the Image of God

Exploring the Connection Between Divine Image and Creative Power

One of the most profound verses in the Bible is found in Genesis 1:26, where God declares:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..."

For centuries, this has been interpreted in a variety of ways, but through the lens of Neville Goddard’s teachings, this statement becomes a gateway to understanding the Bible’s deeper message. According to Goddard, the Bible’s true meaning is not based on external events but rather on the inner workings of the imagination.

By looking at this verse and its references to images throughout the Bible, we can see how God’s creative power is shared with humanity, and how the imagination plays a central role in manifesting our realities. Let’s explore how this idea supports Neville Goddard’s theory that the Bible's key message is about the power of imagination.

1. Genesis 1:26 – “Let Us Make Man in Our Image”

The foundational verse, Genesis 1:26, introduces a profound concept: humanity is made in the image of God. Traditional interpretations often suggest that this means God created man physically like Himself, but Neville Goddard presents a deeper meaning: humans are created in the image of God’s imagination.

Just as God creates through His imagination, humans are endowed with the same creative power. For Goddard, this verse signifies that we, too, have the power to shape our reality through our imagination. We are, in essence, a reflection of God’s creative power, and our imagination is the means by which we co-create with the divine.

2. The Role of Imagination in the Bible

Throughout the Bible, there are several references to images, idols, and creation that align with Neville Goddard’s theory that imagination is the key to understanding the text. These references serve as metaphors for how we use our inner creative power.

a. The Golden Calf (Exodus 32)

In the story of the Golden Calf, the Israelites create an idol to worship during their journey through the wilderness. This idol, a physical image of a calf, represents the misuse of imagination—the shift from inner spiritual alignment to external distractions. Instead of using their imagination to focus on their divine purpose, the Israelites project their desires onto a physical form.

For Goddard, this highlights the false use of imagination, where we misdirect our creative power onto external images and desires rather than focusing on our inner transformation. The golden calf is a symbol of misalignment with the true divine imagination within.

b. The Image of God in Us (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Another verse that speaks to the power of imagination is 2 Corinthians 3:18, which says:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

This passage speaks of the process of becoming the image of God by beholding it. "Beholding" here can be understood as using our imagination to internalize and visualize the divine qualities we wish to embody. As we envision these qualities, we are transformed into that very image, aligning ourselves with the divine power.

Goddard would interpret this as a description of how imagination leads to spiritual and material transformation. By imagining the divine qualities within us, we begin to manifest those qualities in our outer world.

c. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

The story of the Prodigal Son is often seen as an allegory of redemption, but in Goddard’s view, it is a metaphor for the journey of the imagination. The son’s fall into poverty and eventual return represent the misuse of imagination and the restoration that comes when we realign our inner vision with divine purpose.

The father’s warm reception symbolizes how, when we shift our inner imagery and return to the truth of our divine nature, we experience restoration in all aspects of life. The transformation comes when we embrace our true image—our divine imagination—and allow it to guide us toward spiritual and material abundance.

d. The Creation Story (Genesis 1)

In the Creation Story, God speaks the world into existence, saying, "Let there be light," and it is so. In Neville Goddard’s interpretation, this act of creation is a reflection of imagination in action. God imagines the world and speaks it into existence.

Just as God created the world through divine imagination, we too can create our reality through mental imagery and belief. Goddard teaches that this creative power is within us, and the Bible illustrates this process in Genesis. By using our own imagination, we can manifest the life we desire.

3. "Each in His Own House of Images"

Another key verse that reinforces the power of imagination in the Bible is found in Ezekiel 8:12, where God speaks of the idolatry in Israel:

"Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? For they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth."

This verse describes how each person creates an inner world of images—the chambers of his imagery—which are the inner imaginations that shape their lives. These imagery chambers are not unlike the idols that the Israelites worshipped. When imagination is misused, it leads to the creation of false realities and false beliefs. The Bible warns that idols and false images can cloud the truth and lead one astray.

Goddard would interpret this as a reminder that our inner images are incredibly powerful. When we direct our imagination towards alignment with divine truth, we open the door to manifestation and transformation. However, when we focus on external, materialistic, or fearful images, we manifest those false realities.

4. Additional Biblical References to Images

Genesis 5:1 – The Image of God

In Genesis 5:1, the text further emphasizes the connection between God and mankind’s image:

"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him."

This reinforces the idea that humanity is created in the likeness of God, directly linking the image to divine creation. It suggests that, like God, we are endowed with creative power through our imagination.

Exodus 20:4 – Idolatry and False Images

In Exodus 20:4, God commands:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth."

This verse underscores the importance of not allowing false images to dominate our thinking and actions. It serves as a cautionary note about the consequences of allowing the misuse of imagination through the creation of idols—be it physical or mental.

Isaiah 40:20 – The Power of Imagery

Isaiah 40:20 offers a glimpse into the futility of man-made images:

"He who is so poor that he has no offering chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks for himself a skillful workman to make a graven image, that shall not be moved."

This verse reflects the futility of relying on physical or external images to find stability or meaning. It highlights the importance of focusing on inner imagery—our divine imagination—rather than external idols.

Daniel 2:31 – The Vision of the Image

In Daniel 2:31, the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar introduces a giant image made of various materials:

"Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible."

This passage reflects the image of the world’s kingdoms, each represented by different materials. From Goddard’s perspective, this image can be interpreted as representing the external world and external realities created by human imagination. The destruction of this image in the vision can symbolize the ultimate dissolution of material illusions, leading to a return to the inner world of divine imagination.

5. Imagination as the True Image of God

The Bible consistently ties the concept of images and imagination to the act of creation. As we are made in the image of God, and as God creates through imagination, it stands to reason that our imagination is our most powerful tool for creation.

Goddard emphasizes that we, too, are created in the image of divine imagination. Everything in our lives, from our relationships to our circumstances, is shaped by what we imagine. The Bible teaches that if we are to fully understand it, we must recognize that our imagination is not only a tool for creation but a reflection of our divine nature.

Conclusion:

The Bible’s message of being made in God’s image is a profound reminder that our imagination is the key to creation. By recognizing this, we can align our imagination with the divine and use it to transform our lives. Neville Goddard’s teachings underscore that the Bible is not just a historical document but a manual for transformation, showing us that we are made in God’s image because we share the divine creative power of imagination.

When we understand the Bible as a guide to harnessing our inner imagination, we begin to see how it supports the transformative process of manifesting our desires and aligning with the divine. By embodying the image of God through the creative power of imagination, we can create a life that reflects the true nature of the divine within us.