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Genesis 1:26 (Part #6) | Exposing the False Trinity Doctrine
Genesis 1:26 (Part #6)
7. G-d & His Wisdom
Created in G-d's Wisdom
Genesis 1:26 is situated in the context of G-d's act of creation. The Bible tells us that all things were created in the Wisdom of G-d. This includes humanity. Humanity is the pinnacle of G-d's creation and G-d calls humanity to take dominion of all His creation which was created in His Wisdom.
"O LORD, how many are Your works! In Wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions" (Psalm 104:24).
"By Wisdom the LORD [Yahuwah] founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens" (Prov 3:19).
"It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his Wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens" (Jeremiah 10:12).
Lady Wisdom was There When G-d created Man
In the Book of Proverbs, Wisdom is personified as a female entity, commonly called "Lady Wisdom" by Bible commentators. In chapter 8 of Proverbs she, Wisdom, speaks concerning her role in creation:
Does not Wisdom call, Does not understanding raise her voice?.... she cries aloud, 'To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men'.... The Lord [Yahuwah] acquired (qanah) me in the beginning (re'shiyth), at the dawn of his work. I was poured out from eternity at the dawn of the earth. When there was no deep I was brought forth. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. When He established the heavens, I was there....Then I was by Him... my delights with the sons of men." (Proverbs 8; cf. 1:20).
Lady Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs: Espousing the Perfect Bride
The Book of Proverbs is written to exhort readers to embrace Wisdom. Throughout the book, the Virtuous Lady Wisdom is contrasted with Folly the Adulteress. She, Wisdom, is to be courted and espoused by righteous men rather than the adulteress and her foolish ways. For this reason, the book of Proverbs ends with the picture of a perfect wife.
Compare the following carefully:
He who finds ME (Wisdom) finds life and obtains favor from the LORD [Yahuwah]. Proverbs 8:35.
He who finds A WIFE finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD [Yahuwah]. Proverbs 18:22
Notice the surrounding context of Proverbs 18:22. It has nothing to do with finding an actual wife.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD [Yahuwah]. The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly. Proverbs 18.
Also note this parallel:
For Wisdom is more precious than rubies and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. Proverbs 8:11.
Who can find a Virtuous Wife? For her worth is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10
Wisdom as a Bride in Ancient Israel
The following writings also portray Wisdom as a female bride just as we find in the book of Proverbs. These ancient writings show us how ancient Israelites portrayed wisdom as one espouses a bride.
Wisdom of Solomon
Wisdom is my love and I sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my BRIDE, and I was a lover of her beauty. She glorifies her noble origin by living with G-d, the Lord of all, who loves her. She is privy to G-d's mysteries and a lover of his works. Wisdom of Solomon 8:2-4.
Ecclesiasticus
The Bride-Price Language of Proverbs 8:22
In ancient times, the acquisition of a bride carried a price. In ancient Hebrew thought, the language of Proverbs 8:22, "Yahuwah acquired me," is typical bride-price language. For example, this concept is reflected in the Bible where we read that Yahushua bought the church, his bride, at a price. At Proverbs 8:22, where Wisdom helps G-d in creation, we are to understand that Wisdom was G-d's Amon and is portrayed as bride similar to Eve as Adam's helper and bride. The Hebrew word Amon is similar to the word Amen and seems to suggest G-d's Wisdom was like a confidante when He created. Or put more simply, G-d consulted His Wisdom when He created.
Genesis 1:26 is referring to creation. Proverbs 8:22ff. refers to how Wisdom was there at G-d's side when He created. We also read at Proverbs 8:31 that Wisdom's delight was the sons of men. Genesis 1:26 is about the creation of man. And at Proverbs 8:27, Wisdom declares she "was there" at His side when G-d created the heavens and earth.
These facts indicate that Wisdom was portrayed as a female bride by the ancient Israelites and bride-price language is used of Wisdom at Proverbs 8:22 with respect to G-d and His Wisdom. Wisdom was there as G-d's Amon when He created everything. Since the image in question is "male and female," these facts indicate that "us" at Genesis 1:26 is G-d and His Wisdom creating mankind, "them", "male and female" in the image of "us" where "us" is G-d and His Wisdom.
More Evidence: Wisdom of G-d, Eve, and the Garden of Eden
There is further evidence that "us" at Genesis 1:26 refers to G-d and His Wisdom. Observe how eating the fruit to gain wisdom focuses upon the female human: Eve. ADAM, male and female, were not to eat from the knowledge of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Eve was tempted and saw that the fruit was good to gain wisdom. And so she ate and gave to Adam and he also ate. And then we read that Yahuwah G-d says, "the man has become as one of US." To eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and gain such Wisdom was to become "as one of us." Here we find another allusion to US and it is in the context of man becoming like US, or perhaps one OF US, by gaining wisdom, the knowledge of good and evil and in this way they became like G-d and His Wisdom, "according to our likeness." And so there is even more evidence that the "Us" of Genesis 1:26 is pointing to the Wisdom of G-d.
Again, take note how the eating of the fruit to gain Wisdom focuses upon Eve. If "male and female" man are the reflection and image of "Us" at Genesis 1:26, Adam would be the counterpart to G-d and Eve would be the counterpart to G-d's Wisdom. Wisdom is sourced in G-d just as Eve was sourced in the first man Adam. Eve was not created from nothing but was made out of Adam. Likewise, Wisdom finds its origin in G-d Himself. The parallels here are intended to show us that male and female humanity is the image of "US."
Elohim and the Manifold/Multifarious Wisdom of G-d
To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in G-d who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of G-d might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 3:9-10).
The single person, G-d the Father, is called "Elohim" in the Scriptures. When we read the above quotation from the Apostle Paul, it becomes more clear why a plural noun would be used of a single person. The plurality in question is the manifold/multifarious Wisdom of G-d.