Genesis: The Beginning of the Universe and the Bible - Essay Sample

Introduction

Genesis means the beginning. It is the first book in the Old Testament and the Bible. The Book of Genesis is believed to have been authored by Moses. It was written to the Jewish community using the epic genre to provide a chronological historical account of their existence and creation. It dated to around 1450 BC to 1400 BC approximately 3400 years ago. The book of Genesis lays the foundation for the origins of the universe. In Genesis 1:1, the Bible says, "In the beginning..." It provides the creation account. The phrase "in the beginning" depicts the existence of God; thus, God has existed before, He is existing, and He will always exist, which provides us assurance to one trusted God.

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Throughout the creation account in Genesis chapter 1:26 and 27, Verse 26, "And then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, and all the wild animals on the earth and the small animals that scurry along the ground." Verse 27 says, "So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God, he created them; male and female, he created them."

After God had separated the light from darkness on the first day of creation, the second day, He made seas and mountains, and everything was perfect. On the third day, God saw it perfect, and He separated dry land from the oceans thus created growing plants on the earth. The fourth day, He created the sun, moon, and the stars while on the fifth day, He created sea animals and birds of the air. On the sixth day, there was the creation of humanity.

Emphasizing the sixth day's creation, a lot of significance can be drawn from the creation of humanity. The rest of the creations, God was pleased with what he had created, but He was not yet satisfied, and He deemed it perfect to create humans who resembled His image and His likeness. On the sixth day in the noblest utterances from God, "God created man in his own image" (Genesis 1:26 NLT). God emphasizes the significance of this day (6th), it is exceptional, and God's masterpiece is created.

"And God said lets us make man..." the reason of making man is to have dominion over other creatures on the earth. The creation of humans signifies God taking counsel with his astuteness and virtue intending to make an exemplary work from the rest of his creation. This sentiments of "let us make" attributes God embracing unity, God reveals to us the doctrine of Trinity. "...in our own image and likeness..." (Genesis 1:27 NLT). The verse not only shows how humans are unique but also demonstrates and provides an inner meaning to it. To better understand the text, there are two divisions. First, God's image and second, God's likeness.

Created in God's Image

Understanding "God's Image" is likened to the humans' structural appearance. The Christian understanding of the phrase (God's Image) is that man reflects God's personality. However, other scholarly articles interpret the verse (Genesis 1:26 and 27) that humans are likened to God. When God is saying, "Let us make..." its shows divinity. Assumptions that may be regarded include the presence of angels who assisted God in creation, meaning they (angels) as well resemble God. Now, what does it mean to take after God's appearance? God created a creature extraordinary from the rest of the creations. Colossians 3:10 says, "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him" (NLT version). Ephesians 4:24 says, "Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy" (NLT version). God is regarded to be holy, righteous, knowledgeable etc. and thus to his image. In simple terms, man reflects God's image and what is expected of him is a depiction of his creator.

Created in God's Likeness

The likeness represents the parts of the image, the attributes that make a distinction between man and other creations. Notably, humans can identify what is right and wrong; they have a cognitive capacity as well as being rational.

The intention of creating man is clear; he was to have dominion over other creations. From the onset of creation, man was tasked to dominate over other creations, which explain why God created man in his own image and likeness. The authority in verse 26 puts man as God's representative on earth.

The Image of God

Theologically, the phrase "image of God" is pertinent. However, over time a debate has surrounded the phrase in the quest to understand what it means. Most notable arguments regarding the image, is living in affiliation with God and other creations. According to the responsibility God gave man before he created him defines the image. The use of the words "image" and "likeness" puts more emphasis. The image provides a difference between man and other creations, which deem fit for him to domineer. Likeness serves as a divine image, creating a connection between God and others. Man is a reflection of the invisible God.

In verse 27, provides a meaning of being created in the image of God, that is, man is unique. Simply the verse can be interpreted as some of his own attributes are shared with man. Image is a reflection of his personality. Likeness depicts some of his traits separating animals from humans; being rational, having a cognitive capacity, etc. This point is echoed all through in the Bible, in James 3:9, "Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God" (NLT version). Evidently the responsibility of domineering contains consequences when violating the terms, for one should be punished if he does not take good care of other creatures. 1 Corinthians 11:7 says, "A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God's image and reflects God's glory. And woman reflects man's glory" (NLT version). The verse stresses man being God's image as well showing to what extent man is valued by God.

Responsibilities of Taking Reign

From the period man was created he was made ready to have dominion over other creatures. Before breathing to him His breath of life, he made sure everything was in place. In a Biblical context, taking reign over other creatures simply means exercising authority. According to (DeaneDrummond, 2012) taking reign can as well be taking dominion (domineering) which is to exercise control over others. According to verse 26, the sole purpose of human creation was to take reign over others. Some of the responsibilities or authority humans were expected to exercise over others included:

• Exercise dominion over other creatures
• Take care of the environment
• Act as a link between God and his creations

Even though other responsibilities followed in the same chapter (1), the aforementioned responsibilities are prudent in the provided reading.

Conclusion

From the two verses Bible reading (Genesis 1:26-27), God creates humans after his image and likeness. The creation happens after the rest of the creations; purposely, man is created to take dominion over the others. Undoubtedly God is orderly in his creation, in verse 26, He said let's create man in our own image (the sentiments are in future) and verse 27 He creates man, it says, "So God created human beings..." (Man is already created; sentiments are in the past tense).

These verses (26 & 27) show certain aspects of God. To begin with, God is orderly; before He created, he had a purpose for the creation. God is powerful; whatever he wanted, he was able to do it, i.e., He created man in His own image and likeness. God is purposeful; that is, He had an intention (responsibilities) for man before creation to domineer over other creatures. God is in control; he initiates what he wants to happen. On the sixth day of creation, he deemed it right for the creation of man, and he executed the plan.

References

Tyndale, & Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A26-27&version=NLT

DeaneDrummond, C. (2012). God's Image and Likeness in Humans and Other Animals: Performative SoulMaking and Graced Nature. Zygon, 47(4), 934-948. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2012.01308.x https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_689.cfm

Grigg, R. (2020). Made in the image of God - creation.com. [online] Creation.com. Available at: https://creation.com/made-in-the-image-of-god [Accessed 22 Feb. 2020].

Mathews, K. A. (1996). Genesis 1-11: 26 (Vol. 1). B&H Publishing Group.

Towner, W. S. (2005). Clones of God: Genesis 1: 26-27 and the image of God in the Hebrew bible. Interpretation, 59(4), 341-356. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002096430505900402