On Creation in Genesis · §4 · Eustathius of Antioch

The plural 'let us make' reveals a co-creator

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Eustathius is answering the philosopher's question about whom God addressed in Genesis 1:26, arguing that the plural verb introduces a co-creating person.

For 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.

Greek

ἐν τῷ γὰρ εἰπεῖν· καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός· ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον κατ' εἰκόνα ἡμετέραν καὶ καθ' ὁμοίωσιν, ζήτημα ἐνέβαλε νοῆσαι ἡμᾶς, πρὸς τίνα ἔλεγε τὸ ποιήσωμεν· εἰπὼν γὰρ· καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός· ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον, ἐπήγαγε λέγων· καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον, κατ' εἰκόνα Θεοῦ ἐποίησεν

αὐτὸν, ἄρρεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησε αὐτούς. Ἡ οὖν τοῦ ποιήσωμεν σημασία τὸ εἶναι πρόσωπον συνδημιουργὸν σημαίνει καὶ συνισοπροσήγορον εἰσάγει. Ὡς γὰρ Θεὸς ὁ Πατήρ ἐστιν ὁ εἰπών· ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον, οὕτω Θεός ἐστι καὶ πρὸς ὃν τὸ ποιήσωμεν εἴρηκε, μιᾶς οὔσης τῆς τῶν ἀμφοτέρων προσώπων θεότητος, τοῦ τε εἰπόντος· ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον κατ' εἰκόνα ἡμετέραν καὶ καθ' ὁμοίωσιν, καὶ τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὸν ἄνθρωπον. Τὸ γὰρ ποιήσωμεν τὸ πανάγιον καὶ ἀπαράλλακτον τῆς τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ Υἱοῦ θεότητος παρίστησιν ἡ φωνή· ἡ γὰρ τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰκὼν ἁπλῆ καὶ ἀσύνθετός ἐστι, πῦρ οὖσα τῇ φύσει.

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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.

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