Why Does God Refer to Himself in the Plural in Genesis 1:26 and 3:22?

　　As Christians, we believe in one God, so why does he refer to himself in the plural in verses such as Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 3:22? Some Jewish commentators have suggested that when God said, “Let us make man in our image”, he was also speaking to the angels, but that’s not likely the case in this narrative.

　　Furthermore, in Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 3:22, God uses the name “Elohim” in reference to himself. This has a plural meaning. So, if our God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4), how does this compute? Why would a singular God refer to himself in the plural? And what does this mean for us today?

In the Beginning Was the Trinity

　　Although we never see the term “Trinity” in Scripture, the Bible makes it clear that God is three in one. Centuries of church debate, from the beginning, have tried to settle on a way to understand how God can be three in one.

　　We do have to understand, from our human perspective, we can never fully comprehend the nature of an omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God. His ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). However, for a great resource on the Trinity, check out Nabeel Qureshi’s Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.

　　But why would God need to operate in this way? Think about it like this. If God is plural, three in one, God is not lonely. Therefore, when he created, he did so as an outpouring of his love, not out of necessity to appease his boredom or loneliness.

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　　If God was one in one, he would be dependent on his creation (dependent on them to either entertain him, relieve his boredom or loneliness, or carry out tasks for him like slaves). That’s not a loving, all-powerful God. That’s a needy, selfish God. However, because the Trinity exists, God doesn’t need humans. Yet, he created us anyway as an act of love.

Meaning and Importance for Christians Today

　　First, God wants to have a relationship with us (Romans 5:8). Any time we want to strengthen a relationship, we have to learn more about the other person. Knowing the nature of God can strengthen our understanding of him and relationship with him.

　　Second, we can see hints of a Gospel thread even in the very beginning. God the Father, Son, and Spirit all participated in every part of the story of humanity, even creation (Genesis 1:2). And all parts of the Godhead are still active in our lives today. God the Father didn’t quit after the Old Testament, and God the Son didn’t stop his job when he ascended into heaven. And God the Holy Spirit didn’t start his job at Pentecost. God was active in the beginning, continues to be active, and will persist in doing so for all eternity.

　　Third, we have a God who created us as an act of love. God doesn’t need us, but he decided the world could use a little bit of each and every one of us. How amazing that we have a God who isn’t dependent on us, yet still wants to have a relationship with each and every human being!