On Creation in Genesis

1For in many ways, the Father says, it is possible to discern the difference and unlikeness of these animals and birds. First, by saying, “And the Lord God formed still from the earth” (Genesis 2:19). For we do not find anything formed by God except the human being. Again, by saying “still,” the Scripture shows that certain other animals and birds are being prophesied here, different from the earlier ones. For it is not written that the first birds came into being from the earth, but from the waters. These, however, came into being from the earth—or rather, they were formed by God’s own hand, and not according to command.

2In the same way, by saying that all the birds and all the wild animals were now formed by God, Scripture gives us no room at all to say that they came into being earlier and only a part of them now. For this reason God gives no command among these about eating seeds. The creatures that enter paradise do not eat grass, but every tree beautiful to the sight and good for food—and above all, from the tree of life, Christ who gives life. And it is possible to say that these living creatures are the nations—these wild animals gathered by God in the Church—or that paradise today is a place of horses, herds of swine, camels, and flocks of sheep. No, philosopher, it is not so. No, philosopher, it is not so. Rather, God’s saying “Let them rule all the earth” and “let them have dominion over it and over everything in it” (Genesis 1:28)—this is the chief point of making the human being in God’s image and of his ruling all the earth.

3Since God rules all the earth and everything in it, and in the same way appointed the human being as a second ruler over all the earth and everything in it, I say that this is what it means for the human being to be made in God's image and in God's likeness. And God said, “Let us make a human being in our image and in our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). But to whom did he say it? Let us investigate, philosopher.

4For by saying, “And God said, ‘Let us make a human being in our image and in our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26), the text throws in a question for us to understand: to whom was he saying “let us make”? After saying, “And God said, ‘Let us make a human being,’” it goes on to say, “And God made the human being; in God's image he made him; male and female he made them” (Genesis 1:27). So the meaning of “let us make” indicates that there is a co-creator, and it introduces one of equal address. For just as the Father who said “let us make a human being” is God, so also the one to whom he said “let us make” is God, since the deity of both persons is one—both the one who said, “Let us make a human being in God's image and in God's likeness,” and the one who made the human being. The voice “let us make” presents the all-holy and unvarying deity of the Father and the Son. For the image of God is simple and uncompounded, being fire in nature.