Title: "Let Us Make Man": A Theological Exploration of the Divine Images in Genesis 1:26

By Apostle Jenine May

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Introduction

Genesis 1:26 declares, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.'" This passage has long intrigued theologians and Bible students alike. Who is the "Us" referenced here? Traditionally, Christian doctrine attributes this to the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, a deeper examination of both biblical and wisdom literature reveals a profound and compelling interpretation that deserves thoughtful exploration. This article introduces a revelatory framework that harmonizes Scripture, Hebrew wisdom literature, and the nature of God’s manifestations.

God Is One Spirit, Manifest in Three Distinct Personalities
Scripture affirms that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and that He is One (Deuteronomy 6:4). Within that unity, God manifests in three distinct but unified personalities: the Father, the Word (Logos), and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7, KJV). These are not separate spirits, but rather unique expressions of the One Spirit's nature and function.

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Jesus: The Embodiment of the Word
Colossians 1:15 calls Jesus "the image of the invisible God," and John 1:14 confirms that "the Word became flesh." Jesus, then, is not merely the Son in title, but the physical embodiment of the eternal Word. He is the first visible image of the invisible God, formed as the pattern for humanity. As the "firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15), Jesus represents the first body God prepared for Himself to dwell in.

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Wisdom: The Embodiment of the Holy Spirit
Just as Jesus embodies the Word, the feminine personification of Wisdom in Scripture reveals another divine image. Proverbs 8 describes Wisdom as present at creation: "I was beside Him, like a master workman" (v.30). It also says in the v.22, The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. The Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 calls her "the brightness of the everlasting light, the flawless mirror of the active power of God, and the image of His goodness." These descriptions mirror how the Holy Spirit functions throughout Scripture: nurturing, guiding, comforting, and empowering. In this interpretive model, Wisdom is the embodied expression of the Holy Spirit, and the female counterpart to the Word.

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Two Divine Images, One Spirit

Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." If God is Spirit, then the idea of image implies visibility. A spirit, by nature, has no form or physical likeness. Yet mankind—both male and female—was made in God's image. This leads to a revelatory possibility: God manifested two visible images within Himself to serve as the pattern for humanity. Jesus (the Word) is the pattern for the male, and Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) is the pattern for the female.

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The "Us" of Genesis 1:26 Reconsidered
In this view, when God said, "Let Us make man in Our image," He was speaking within Himself—not to external beings or a council of angels, but to His own manifestations. He was addressing the Word and the Spirit as they existed in visible form: Jesus and Wisdom. These two divine images, male and female, serve as the spiritual and physical blueprint for mankind.

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Humanity: The Unified Reflection of God’s Dual Image

This interpretive model elevates the dignity and purpose of both male and female in creation. Man was not made from a singular divine image but from a dual reflection of God’s expressed nature. The male expresses the strength, leadership, and headship seen in the Word. The female expresses the discernment, nurture, and insight seen in Wisdom. Together, they reflect the fullness of God's image in creation.

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Conclusion
This theological exploration affirms the oneness of God while illuminating the diversity within His manifestations. It also restores a reverent understanding of the feminine in divine theology without compromising the integrity of Scripture. By recognizing Jesus as the embodiment of the Word and Wisdom as the embodiment of the Holy Spirit, we see Genesis 1:26 not as a cryptic plural, but as a sacred conversation within the Godhead—a dialogue between divine images through which humanity was formed. "Male and female created He them" takes on new depth when we understand that both were patterned after divine prototypes. This revelation not only honors the mystery of God but also the wonder of our creation in His image.