Jesus in Genesis 1:1
Is Jesus in Genesis 1:1?
The Hebrew for God (Elohim) is in plural form. Many Christians have suggested that this alludes to the Trinity. That seems unlikely to me. Elohim is the most general word referring to God, rather than a specific title like Jehovah or YHWH. At this stage of the text the name of Elohim has not been revealed. But after the exact nature of God has been revealed in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:3), John explains the God of Genesis 1 (John 1:1-3). He claims that in the beginning, Jesus was God. This denotes ontological equality. However, he also claims that all things were created through Jesus. So there’s a difference in functionality. Colossians 1:16-17 provides additional evidence for this. All things were created “through him” and “for him”, but it was not by his hands that all things were created, but rather, by the hands of God the Father (Hebrews 1:10).
But although Jesus may not be represented by the original Hebrew text in Genesis 1:1, the act of creation certainly refers to an act that occurred through him and for him. So Genesis 1:1 is the first time in Genesis that we see the work of Jesus, and Hebrews 1:3 tells us that everything after Genesis 1:1 is held together by the word of his power. So Jesus is there from Genesis 1:1 until Revelation 22:20 where Jesus says “Surely I am coming soon.” Amazing!
So why the plural for God in Genesis 1:1? I think it’s for the same reason the plural is used for heavens. There is only one God, and one heaven, yet the plural indicates their enormousness. We might say “the oceans” powerfully eroded the coast, and the plural would simply indicate that the ocean is massive compared to the coast, and able to hit it from many angles at once, all at the same time. Similarly, God is able to work so powerfully, and so wisely, in many places all at the same time, that we might talk about him in plural form (especially if our language, unlike English, allowed plurals to be used easily in this way without being grammatically awkward). However, we know that he is one (Isaiah 45:18), even though it is difficult to fathom how God can be one, and yet be so supreme in his omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, love, goodness, etc.
Keep in mind though, whilst he is one, he is also three: Father, Son, and Spirit. But I don’t think the Trinity is being referred to specifically in Genesis 1:1.
So how does this all fit with Genesis 1:26, which also uses plural form?
In Genesis 1:1, God seems to be referred to in his role as creator. In 1:26 God seems to be referred to in regard to his image and likeness. So 1:1 refers to authority and functionality, whilst 1:26 refers to ontology. 1:1 refers to his infinite capability and his functionality in time and action, but 1;26 refers to his whole being. The whole of God’s essence is referred to in 1:26. Since we know God is Father, Son, and Spirit, then I would say 1:26 refers to the Trinity. In Genesis 1:1 the whole Trinity is involved, yet I don’t think that the Trinity is implied by the plural. It seems more like an allusion to God’s majesty and supremecy.
See www.sevenpages.org/blog/archives/38
Created about 2 years ago
