Genesis 1:26?

[jussanuddername]

Gen 1:26 Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small."


Okay, maybe a dumb question but: Who is "we" and "us"

 

[StAnselm]

What's the problem? We use the plural all the time...

This is not a dumb question, but an important one, that has vexed lots of people over the years. Some people want to see the Trinity in this verse - "we" being the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - but there is no indication of the number three in the text. One could equally read "Binatarianism" into it.

Others want to see a plurality of marjesty - the "royal we". Still others suggest it is God speaking to the angels - though that raises big problems regarding the "our image" bit.

So, like so much in the Bible, it's not completely clear. Nor is it 100% certain exactly what the "image of God" involves. What everybody does seem to agree on, however, is that this verse is extremely important.

Personally, I see it as God setting up mankind as his vice-regent - someone to govern creation on his behalf. But there's more to it than that, as well...

 

[daveleau]

John 1:1
The Word was God and the Word was with God.

Gen 1:2
And the Spirit of God was on the waters

John says that Jesus was there from the beginning. Gen 1:2 says that the Holy Spirit was working on earth for God as well. The "we" and "us" are The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. The Trinity is not a new thing, it has been here since the beginning.

God bless you,
Dave

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Jussanuddername,

Gen 1:26 Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small."


Okay, maybe a dumb question but: Who is "we" and "us"

Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

Ephesians 3:9-11 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

The "trinity" is revealed from Genesis to Revelation, but naysayers will never see it.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[StAnselm]

Some people want to see the Trinity in this verse

Like I said...

I agree that Jesus created the world. But if Genesis 1:26 refers to the members of the trinity, I'm quite sure that neither Moses nor his original readers would have realised that. And the fact that the Spirit is in verse 2 does not imply he is speaking in verse 26.

The verse is compatible with the New Testament concept of the trinity, but does not actually teach it itself.

 

[TrevorL]

Howdy jussanuddername,

Greetings. I believe that the plural in Genesis 1:26 represents God and the angels. The word translated God is "Elohim". This word is translated in the KJV Bible usually as God, but sometimes as god, gods, angels and judges according to each context. There is some inconsistency with modern translations, where the KJV "angels" is translated "God" in Psalm 8:5, and "judges" is translated "God" in Exodus 22:8-9, eg ASV, RV, RSV. Note "heavenly beings" NIV and "God" NIV mg for Psalm 8:5, "judges" and mg "God" for Exodus 22:8-9.

Genesis 1:26 (KJV): "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

The conclusion then is that Adam and Eve were fashioned in the image and after the likeness of God and the angels. This also indicates that the angels themselves are fashioned after the image and likeness of God. That the angels were involved in Genesis 1:26 is confirmed in Psalm 8:5.

When David contemplates the spiritual and natural creation in Psalm 8, he alludes to Genesis 1:26:
Psalm 8:3-6 (KJV): "3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:"

As stated above, the translators have had trouble deciding how to render "Elohim" in Psalm 8:5, eg ASV, RV, RSV render this as "God". The KJV recognises the range and meaning of the word "Elohim" in this context and translates this word as angels, as does also the LXX.

Paul quotes Psalm 8:5 in the following:
Hebrews 2:7 (KJV): "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:"

This confirms that the word "Elohim" in Psalm 8:5 has the range to include the angels and this endorses the KJV translation of Psalm 8:5 "angels" for the word "Elohim" usually translated "God". As David is commenting on Genesis 1:26 this is then a Divine commentary that "Elohim" in Psalm 8:5 and hence also "Elohim" translated "God" in Genesis 1:26 includes the angels. God involved the angels in the creation of man, but any action on their part would involve the power and wisdom from God.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[daveleau]

Like I said...

I agree that Jesus created the world. But if Genesis 1:26 refers to the members of the trinity, I'm quite sure that neither Moses nor his original readers would have realised that. And the fact that the Spirit is in verse 2 does not imply he is speaking in verse 26.

The verse is compatible with the New Testament concept of the trinity, but does not actually teach it itself.

Hey, at least I gave justification that the Trinity was present other than just this verse. I agree that this does not teach the Trinity, but it does give us that sense. I would not base the idea of the Trinity on this verse alone.

 

[StAnselm]

Hey, at least I gave justification that the Trinity was present other than just this verse.

So you did.

I believe that the plural in Genesis 1:26 represents God and the angels

Trevor, I find your argument quite unconvincing. The fact that elohim is sometimes is to be translated as "angels", doesn't give us any particular reason why it refers to angels here. "God" is certainly the primary meaning in the OT.

The problem about your appeal to Psalm 8 is that it involves circular reasoning. Even if it is granted that the word has the same meaning in both verses, we still have to make an assumption as to what that meaning is. Why can't Psalm 8:5 read, "You made him a little lower than God"?

 

[TrevorL]

Howdy StAnselm,
Greetings.

Trevor, I find your argument quite unconvincing. The fact that elohim is sometimes is to be translated as "angels", doesn't give us any particular reason why it refers to angels here. "God" is certainly the primary meaning in the OT.

The problem about your appeal to Psalm 8 is that it involves circular reasoning. Even if it is granted that the word has the same meaning in both verses, we still have to make an assumption as to what that meaning is. Why can't Psalm 8:5 read, "You made him a little lower than God"?

Because Paul when quoting Psalm 8:5 uses the "angels" and bases his argument in Hebrews 2 on this verse to prove that Jesus had to come in human nature, and hence "lower than the angels" in that he was subject to death. If Psalm 8:5 is actually "God" then there would be some doubt whether Jesus came lower than God, but above the angels, or lower than God and equal to the angels.

The deduction back to Genesis 1:26 is admittedly not absolutely provable, but it is my belief, based also on other verses such as Genesis 3:5 (compare KJV and other translations "gods", "God") and Genesis 3:22. Also the word "Elohim" can be translated as "Mighty Ones", indicating that these are beings who have the might or power of God.

Kind regards
Trevor