On Creation in Genesis · §1 · Eustathius of Antioch

The earth-formed animals differ from the earlier water-born ones

Click or tap any sentence to jump there. The side buttons skip a paragraph.

Eustathius is answering the philosopher's question about the creation of animals and humanity in Genesis, and here he begins to distinguish the animals formed from the earth in Genesis 2 from those created earlier from the waters.

For 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.

Greek

In Genesim de creatione [Sp.] (fragmenta) 85 Καὶ γὰρ ἐκ πολλῶν τρόπων ἔστι διαγνῶναι, φησὶν ὁ Πατὴρ, τούτων τῶν ζῴων καὶ πετεινῶν τὸ διάφορόν τε καὶ ἀνόμοιον· πρῶτον διὰ τοῦ εἰπεῖν καὶ ἔπλασε κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἔτι· οὐ γὰρ εὑρίσκομεν πλάσμα Θεοῦ εἶναι εἰ μὴ τὸν ἄνθρωπον· πάλιν καὶ διὰ τοῦ λέγειν τὸ ἔτι, δείκνυσιν ἡ γραφὴ ἔτερά τινα ἐνταῦθα ζῷα προφητεύεσθαι καὶ πετεινὰ παρὰ τὰ πρότερα οὔτε γὰρ γέγραπται τὰ πρῶτα πετεινὰ ἐκ γῆς γενόμενα, ἀλλ' ἐξ ὑδάτων· ταῦτα δὲ ἐκ γῆς ἐγένοντο, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐπλάσθησαν ἰδιοχείρως παρὰ Θεοῦ καὶ οὐ κατὰ πρόσταξιν.

Report a mistake in this passage

About this text

Eustathius on the creation account in Genesis.

Eustathius of Antioch (fl. c. 320–337) is named in the manuscripts as the author of this treatise, which answers a philosopher who had raised questions about the creation of animals and humanity in Genesis. The work defends the Church's reading of the opening chapters of the Bible, especially the distinct creation of humanity in God's image and likeness and the co-creative role of the Son.

The philosopher's questions prompt Eustathius to explain the difference between the animals and birds formed from the earth in Genesis 2 and those created earlier from the waters. He argues that only the earth-formed creatures are said to be formed by God's own hand, and he offers both a literal reading and an interpretation of them as the nations gathered into the Church. He also addresses the plural words 'let us make' in Genesis 1:26, arguing that they introduce a co-creating person and reveal the shared deity of the Father and the Son.

A reader should know that 'formed' refers to God's direct, hands-on making of humanity and the later animals, as opposed to creation by command. 'In God's image' and 'in God's likeness' describe humanity's role as ruler over the earth. The plural 'let us make' is read as evidence of a co-creator, and the Son is identified as the simple, uncompounded image of God. Bible citations follow modern conventions, with Genesis 1:26–27 and Genesis 2 as the main passages.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 18 (Greek)

This work has passed our source check. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Greek on any section to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

Report a mistake