What did God mean in Genesis when he said "Let Us make man in Our own image?

Question

Who is "Us"?

Answer 1

"Us" refers to the trinity of God:

God is one being comprised of three parts working so closely that they actually are one being

The three parts are the Father (God), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit

Answer 2

What image Adam and Eve were created is very clear but the appearance is not realized in Adam. There was for a moment in its infancy, but you turn the page and see him denying the purpose of God and choosing an alternative life, which God calls death, Genesis 2: 17 and 3: 6 which satan claimed was not death but as his agenda a life based upon his huge imagination, being like god, a god. This is the lie of the JW john 1: 1 "was a god" They teach that Christ was a man who was on this path of SATAN'S SUGGESTION OF LIVING (AS IF FROM GOD) A WAY TO BECOMING A GOD. And is why they question whether or not Jesus is God, instead of being a god. The continuation of Genesis 1: 26 is realized in restoration and birth brought forth and realized in Christ Ephesians 1: 4-5 and 1 Corinthians 15: 42-46 and this man was in and hid Fatherhood of God's heart, child and chosen in Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and 5: 17 See Romans 8: 28-30, Ephesians 2:10 and 4: 13 and 24 and 1 Corinthians 2: 4-6 and Colossians 3: 10

Answer 3

GOD AND JESUS AND ANGELS ARE BEFORE THE WORLD

Gen.1:1,2; In the beginning God and the spirit of God with heaven and earth and water on earth existing.
Gen.1:3-25; Earth is in preparation. Job 38:4-7 Angels see earth in preparation.
Gen.1:26;
God said,"Let us make man in our image after our likeness." John 17:3,5,24;
Col.1:15-17; Jesus was with God before the world was. John 8:58 Before Abraham.
God had made Jesus as first creation created in image of God. Rev.3:14;
Heb.1:1-13;
Jesus is so much better than the angels now. Satan and unholy angels will be under feet of Jesus and apostles Rom.16:20; John 14:3 A place is prepared for apostles to be above Satan and in heaven. 2Cor.4:3,4 Satan is god of world that ends.
Rev.20:1-6,12,13; No Satan. The heavenly are there.

Eph.2:7; 3:21; The world with jesus is without end, John 3:16;

Answer 4

OK, two things:
First, you *do* understand that the creation story in genesis isn't REAL, right? It's a creation myth like thousands of other creation myths in various cultures -- a fable, a story meant to illustrate a point, fictional, NOT REAL. So let's make sure you get that straight first.

Second, you'll find through a thorough review of the bible that the hebrews' idea of a single all-powerful god evolved over time -- it was not that way right from the start. Early writings often speak of multiple gods (with Jehovah just being either the most important among them, or not even being more important than the others, just "assigned" to be the god of the hebrews and nobody else). This polytheistic view was common in many cultures at the time. That view evolved to consolidate Jehovah's position as absolutely the most important of all the gods, implying that the gods of other nearby cultures weren't as important or powerful as Jehovah...and finally (much, much later) to the idea that Jehovah was the ONLY god. The evolution (and sidetracks along the way) of these ideas is clear in the bible.

It's important to remember that they're just *ideas* -- writings showing the way the hebrews (and later jews in jerusalem) thought about their deities, not actual facts. From a historical perspective it's interesting to see how their ideas changed over time. From a reality perspective, there's nothing there :)

Answer 5

Answer 1: Some say that the Genesis story was copied from a polytheistic religion and thus the plurality of God comes from many gods.

Answer 2: Some say that God was referring what is commonly known as the Trinity of Jesus, God, and the Spirit. Though there are arguments as to whether the trinity itself is polytheistic, the Christian belief is that they all are one and refer to each other separately.

As far as I know, there are no other instances in the Bible where God refers to himself in plural. In fact, he names himself Lord ("I AM") to Moses in the Old Testament. However, that can also be explained to the translation of I AM as in the more vague since "to be".

(I just think its funny that I have 2 thumbs down (so far) for trying to answer the question as unbiasedly as possible. I just *wonder* who could have given this answer such a rating)

Answer 6

Funny story, this isn't meant to be taken literally, so this means that the rest of the bible cannot be taken literally. Either it's all literal, or some of it is, there's no in between.

Unfortunately people will pick and choose what they want to be literal, and what they want to be in a different context. Take the 7 day theory, it's becoming more and more common that people believe that a "day" might actually represent a much longer time. This only after it became so very painfully obvious that the earth has been here more than 6,000 years.

Answer 7

Another R&S question that will no doubt be answered by those endless quotes from the bible. I always wondered about who it was that made this 'god' who made these 'men' in 'his' own image with his co-creators more...It would really help if we could get to the root of all being, yes?

Answer 8

From the Quest Study Bible:
"Often kings refer to themselves in this way. The word for God in Hebrew (Elohim) is plural, so the statement likely indicates that God is taking counsel with himself. This may also hint at the mystery of the Trinity-- in the unity of God there is plurality. Some think this describes God speaking to his heavenly court of angels"

There are three explanations from the experts! Sounds good to me.

Answer 9

Excellent question. God was obviously talking to someone. It couldn't have been the angels, because angels were not created in the image of God and because angels do not create. Hence, LET US MAKE...So, God could only have been talking to his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, the firstborn of all creation, by whom and for whom all was created thereafter. John 1:3 All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.

Answer 10

Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Making man in His own image: Man is a Spirit being, living in a body and possesses a soul.

Answer 11

Jesus was the first creation of God and the Bible tells us that Jesus assisted in the creation of all other things. The Holy spirit is God's energy. It is not a person. Electricity doesn't have a personality and you don't talk to it so why would God speak to energy? God was speaking to Jesus.