Gen. 3:22

[Magnum_V8]

22 And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now, therefore, lest perhaps he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.

Sorry, maybe my reading comprehension is slipping. Who is the “us”?

I would have expected the verse to say, “Behold Adam is become as me.”

 

[Joe_Kelley]

22 And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now, therefore, lest perhaps he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.

Sorry, maybe my reading comprehension is slipping. Who is the “us”?

I would have expected the verse to say, “Behold Adam is become as me.”

It could prefigure the Trinity. However, I think the more common interpretation is that it is a royal we. I think it was the custom of royalty to refer to self in the plural.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

The royal “we” came about because the head of a country speaks on behalf of the members of the State. So, even if a royal we – God still seems to be speaking to a community which bears his image in some way.

Perhaps he is speaking to the court of spirits (angels)?


For example, when God was present to Moses in the burning bush – the burning image of the bush was itself the messenger (literally an angel) – and scripture later speaks of the covenant as delivered by angels. Angels, then, can bring forth creations – as visions at the very least.

They also appear to be able to manipulate the material world upon occasion, so it is not inconceivable that they were created with the ability to be co-creators of the material world (not ex-nihilo as God – but forming from pre-extant dust).

 

[SpiritMeadow]

It does seem anomalous at time. I’ve noticed it too, even when God refers to “having no other gods before him”…well there are no other gods so its kinda weird. I think there are several places in the OT like that. But I like to think of it as a “trinity” thing insofar as 3:22 goes.

 

[Deacon_Joseph]

It could prefigure the Trinity. However, I think the more common interpretation is that it is a royal we. I think it was the custom of royalty to refer to self in the plural.

An interesting point, but the Church teaches that this ‘us’ is the Holy Trinity. The first time its mentioned, ‘us’, is Gen 1:27

 

[fellowChristian]

If you look at the begining of the book of Genesis you’ll notice God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1
1 In the beginning God created heaven, and earth.

God the Father

2 And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and **the spirit of God **moved over the waters.

God the Holy Spirit

3 And God said: Be light made. And light was made.

The Word of God, before He came in the flesh, Jesus

26 God said, “Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild animals and all the creatures that creep along the ground.”

The Holy Trinity

Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches…

**233 **

Christians are baptized in the** name **of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: not in their names,55 for there is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity.

usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt1art1p2.htm

** Is there only one God? **

Yes, there is only one God.
I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God besides me. (Isaiah 45:5)

** How many Persons are there in God? **

In God there are three Divine Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Going, therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19)

** Is the Father God? **

The Father is God and the first Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 1:3)

** Is the Son God? **

The Son is God and the second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

** Is the Holy Ghost God? **

The Holy Ghost is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (I Corinthians 3:16)

**What do we mean by the Blessed Trinity? **

By the Blessed Trinity we mean, one and the same God in three Divine Persons.
Going, therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19)

** Are the three Divine Persons really distinct from one another? **

The three Divine Persons are really distinct from one another.
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove, upon him. And a voice came from heaven: “Thou art my beloved Son. In thee I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)

** Are the three Divine Persons perfectly equal to one another? **

The three Divine Persons are perfectly equal to one another, because all are one and the same God.
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
**
How are the three Divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, one and the same God? **

The three Divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, are one and the same God because all have one and the same Divine nature.

** Can we fully understand how the three Divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, are one and the same God? **

We cannot fully understand how the three Divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, are one and the same God because this is a supernatural mystery.
**
What is a supernatural mystery?**

A supernatural mystery is a truth which we cannot fully understand, but which we firmly believe because we have God’s word for it.