Final answer:
When God created man in his own image, it refers to the concept that humans mirror aspects of God's nature such as reason, morality, or relationality. Theological debates, such as those between iconoclasts and iconophiles, interpretations of this concept in relation to the depiction of divinity, especially after the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Step-by-step explanation:
When God created man in his own image, this phrase can be open to different interpretations that revolve around whether it is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically. In religious and theological discussions, it's often seen as meaning that humans reflect God's nature in their ability to reason, their moral sense, or their capacity for relationships. This topic is associated with intricate theological debates that date back centuries, such as those between iconoclasts and iconophiles during the Byzantine period. The iconophiles argued that since Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became an incarnate human being, the making of images was allowed as it followed the divine example. This theological stance supported the creation and veneration of images of Jesus. In contrast, the iconoclasts maintained that God was beyond physical depiction, as God was invisible and infinite.