In the story of Adam and Eve, since they ate of the tree of knowledge, why does God say they will be like "Us" and know good and evil. Who is "Us"?
2007-01-10 03:23:47 · 12 answers · asked by GirlUdontKnow 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In the original Hebrew, the word for "God" in the first chapter of Genesis is "elohim" which is a plural form (ie. family). And there are several allusions to "Them" and "Us" in that first chapter of Genesis. A change occurs in Chapter two when God is then referred to as "Al Saddai" (in Hebrew) which means, "the Lord", and the term "elohim" is not seen again. This change exemplifies the notion that there were several "writers" of Genesis with each writer giving his/her own "twist" to the stories of creation and providing their own re-interpretation of ancient Summarian and Assyrian creation folklore (which can also be found in Jewish "Midrash")
The plurality of God in the first Chapter of Genesis provides the reader with insight as to how early man first began to understand the concept of a monotheistic "God" and It's relationship to humanity. The idea that "God" has deifferent names for Itself depending on what "God" is doing is best described in detail in a Pulitzer-prize winning book entitled, "A Biography of God" by Jack Miles which I would recommend to anyone interested in finding out truths about why the Christian world views God as it does using the Bible as its source. I would also recommend a book by Karen Armstrong entitled, "The History of God" which goes into greater detail on how monotheism took root and how the monotheistic viewpoint grew to be widely accepted.
2007-01-10 03:42:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There's a scripture in John 1 that says IN THE BEGINNING was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Father, Son, and Spirit has been there since the beginning. Jesus just didn't come to existence in Matt., He snuck in the OT in the fiery furncae, when they saw 4 individuals instead of 3. See Jesus isn't on a time table, matter of fact He's not in time. SO He'll show up when He wants. That's what I believe. Let us make man in our own image. Your spirit is the image of God. It should possess every thing Jesus was about.
2007-01-10 03:29:59 · answer #2 · answered by Nish 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By "Us" I think he is speaking for the Heavenly realm
One correction, It is the "tree of knowledge of good and evil". Some shorten the name deliberately to make it seem that God didn’t want Adam and Eve to have knowledge. God definitely wants us to use our minds and to gain knowledge. By placing the tree in the garden he gave them a choice. "Obey me and be good guardians of all my creation" or "become self absorbed". Notice that when they eat the fruit they immediately begin thinking about themselves.
This is what I find of most significance in the story.
2007-01-10 03:35:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before about 500 BCE, the Torah talked about the existence of the male God, female Goddess, and inferior demigods, hence a little-known reason why Wicca is sometimes called "the Old Way," despite its relative newness.
2007-01-10 03:27:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
God the Father created the earth through His Son Jesus Christ.
2007-01-10 03:28:34 · answer #5 · answered by CL R 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It could be a reference to the Trinity, or it could be a reference to everyone who dwells in Heaven (angels and God).
2007-01-10 03:29:06 · answer #6 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Genesis has several places where the Father talks about someone else being with him. I believe He's talking to his Son.
2007-01-10 03:32:12 · answer #7 · answered by cirque de lune 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit
2007-01-10 03:28:05 · answer #8 · answered by wanda3s48 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We simply right now only know 'us' is plural; who else was there can not be definitively started by 'us' humans presently.
2007-01-10 04:26:36 · answer #9 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He doesnt. But when He reffers to "us" as in "Let us create man in our image" I believe He was talking to the angels since they were already created.
2007-01-10 03:28:24 · answer #10 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋