Who was God talking to when he stated that let us make men in our image and our likeness in Genesis 1:26-27? Were there other people around God or did the author make a mistake?

 

Genesis 1–3 is a poetic summary of the origins of the earth, its organisms, the universe about the earth and humanity.

Genesis 1 v 26 -27 relates to the term Elohim or Gods in the first verse. This is a plural term for God, and as such explains v 26–27 and also later in chapter three about our and us. Some suggest this is the court of God and the Creator God was declaring to the heavenly court, humans will be like us, the Heavenly Court - God with His creations. However, the terms used are creative, that is ‘let us make Adam in our image and our likeness’, this cannot be the Heavenly Court nor God’s Angels who cannot create. Instead, it is about God (Elohim) and is plural, as we see in v 1 ‘the Spirit of God was hovering over the deep’, hence the Spirit of God is part of the creation and is a feminine term, so a different form of God. Then, the Books of the Bible speak about the Wisdom of God and the Word of God as having the power and ability to create. They also refer to this as the Angel of Hosts (like the one who showed his back to Moses) yet was still God - God said God would show himself to Moses yet protect him from his glory. Here we see ‘us and our’ as God the Creator, Elohim, being the Spirit of God, God the Maker and the Wisdom or Word of God.

This lines up well with John 1, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.’ See how the author of John 1 copies Genesis 1, ‘In the beginning..’ and the working of the Plural God working through the Word of God. Then in John, ‘9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’

Here the author names the Word or Logos (Luke 1), ‘We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ Here is the Son, the very perfect representative of God who is with God and is God. This makes Genesis 1 v 26–27 more important as later God would incarnate as a human representing the image of God and humans, and reconciling both after the separation of the fall of humanity into knowing good and evil. God literally comes to humans again and reveals God and the character of God and brings (saves) humanity back to their original image of being like God in characteristics and spiritual position; hence, ‘2 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.’

Jesus also shows the role and God character of the Holy Spirit when he breaths the Holy Spirit in to his disciples, and shows the creative role of the Holy Spirit (we see this with Jesus’ baptism too), in John 14, ‘ 6 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.’ Here Jesus reveals another just like him who is the Spirit of Truth who will enliven people to be ‘born again’ and children of God as God the Holy Spirit will live in them.

Powerfully, Jesus continues, ‘18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Jesus will live in his people by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Father and Son (Word/Logos) will love them and show themselves to his followers-children. This all lines up with Genesis 1 v 26–27, make Adam (humans) is our image and likeness! See how the OT revelation ties up with the NT revelation?