“Let Us Make Man in Our Image”: Understanding Genesis 1:26–27 in Light of the Trinity and Early Church Fathers

Does Genesis 1:26–27 prove the Trinity? The use of plural “us/our” and singular “his” in creation has puzzled many. Discover how the Catholic Church, the early Christians, and the Church Fathers interpreted this passage in relation to God’s unity and plurality.

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📖 Introduction

One of the most profound mysteries in the Bible is found in the first chapter of Genesis:

• “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’ (Genesis 1:26).

• “So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

Why does Scripture first use plural pronouns and then shift to singular? Does this mean more than one God, or does it reveal something deeper? The Catholic Church, supported by Scripture, Tradition, and the Church Fathers, teaches that this is an early foreshadowing of the Trinity.

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🔍 Biblical and Theological Explanation

1. Plural Expression: “Let Us Make” (Genesis 1:26)

• The plural form is not accidental. It signifies divine communion and points to the plurality of Persons in the one Godhead.

• This is not polytheism but a mystery of divine relationship within God Himself.

2. Singular Expression: “So God Created” (Genesis 1:27)

• While God speaks in the plural, the action of creation is attributed to God alone in singular form.

• This safeguards the truth that there is only One God (Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord”).

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🏛️ Early Church Fathers on Genesis 1:26–27

Church Father	Interpretation
St. Irenaeus (Against Heresies, IV.20.1)	The “us” refers to the Son and the Spirit, co-workers of the Father in creation.
Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho, 62)	The Logos (Christ) was with the Father and participated in the act of creating man.
Origen (Homilies on Genesis, 1.13)	The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together shaped man in the divine image.
St. Augustine (De Trinitate, XII.7)	The plural hints at the Trinity, but the singular emphasizes one divine essence.

📖 Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) References

• CCC 292: “The Old Testament suggests and prepares the New, which reveals the Trinity. God’s Word and Spirit are at the origin of the being and life of every creature.”

• CCC 703: “The Word of God and his Breath are at the origin of the being and life of every creature.”

• CCC 257: Creation is the work of the Trinity, carried out by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

📚 Alternative Views (and Why They Fall Short)

View	Explanation	Catholic Response
Divine Council View (God speaking to angels)	God addressed His heavenly court.	Angels are not co-creators; only God creates life (Isaiah 44:24).
Plural of Majesty	“We” as a royal figure of speech.	This usage was not common in ancient Hebrew; context points beyond mere grammar.
Polytheism	Multiple gods made man.	Flatly rejected: Israel believed in one God (Deut. 6:4).

✨ Theological Meaning for Christians The plural pronouns reveal an early hint of the Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The singular pronoun highlights the unity of God’s essence: One God in Three Persons. Humanity is created in this divine image, meaning we are made for communion, love, and relationship. ✅ Conclusion Genesis 1:26–27 is not a contradiction but a divine revelation of both the unity and plurality of God. The Church Fathers saw in this passage a prophetic glimpse of the Trinity, fully revealed in the New Testament (cf. Matthew 28:19). Thus, when God said, “Let us make man in our image,” it was not a conversation with angels nor a slip of grammar—it was the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the eternal communion of love, bringing humanity into existence.

READ ALSO:

• “Is the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity Biblical?”

• Seventh-day Adventist Pioneers on the Trinity: Unpacking the Historical Reality Behind Their Early Beliefs

• "Why Catholics Use Terms Not Found in the Bible: Tradition, Language, and the Fullness of Christian Truth"