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About Brenda Martin
Expertise
I have been one of Jehovah`s Witneses now for over 30 years, in those years I have brought up 4 children, teaching each of them the bible.Being one of Jehovah`s Witnesses has helped me cope with my Epilepsy and bring up a daughter with learning difficulties.I have conducted bible studies with people from nearly every denomination i.e. Muslim. Having used the bible all these years to answer peoples questions, I feel I am qualified to give any answer regarding Jehovah`s Witnesses and the bible.
Experience
My experience has been one of attending bible lectures 5 times a week,taking part in these lectures in front of an audience and being with thousands of J.W. at conventions where I have seen the bible at work in peoples lives.It is truly a miracle when you see thousands of people meeting together and not one policeman needed, and not even a piece of litter in sight.It is like another world.
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You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Christianity - Restorationism > Jehovah`s Witness > Let us/In Our
Expert: Brenda Martin
Date: 5/14/2008
Subject: Let us/In Our
Question
QUESTION: In Genesis 1:26, Who is God refering to when he is saying,"Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness:", Who is the "us and our"?
ANSWER: HI there, God is speaking to Jesus the; "firstborn of all creation"
Use of this pronoun "us" does not mean that God was talking to an equal. At best it implies that among heavenly creatures, one occupies a preferred position in relation to God,the prehuman Jesus was God’s intimate associate, Master Worker, and Spokesman.—Genesis 1:26; 11:7; Proverbs 8:30, 31; John 1:3.
all the best
Brenda
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hello Brenda and thanks for answering the question. Im very confused with this at the moment because Im told that god is speaking to Jesus, who is an angel, but nowhere have I found reference to man being created in the image or likeness of angels. God is talking to someone, there is no disputing that, he is creating man with the help of someone according to (our likeness) and (our image), meaning God and someone else. So God created man in his own image and not that of the angels. So if God is speaking to his firstborn creation then he cannot be an angel, and if he is an angels then God was refering to someone else, because I don't believe he was talking to himself or refering to himself as a secong being.
thanks
Answer
HI Edina, you asked--"JESUS AN ANGEL?"
Let’s consider some verses that clarify the matter; after Adam & Eve disobeyed, God says--“The man has become like one of us in knowing good and bad.” (Genesis 3:22)
Who was this “one of us” that God spoke of; was God referring to the faithful angels? We cannot say definitely. However, the similarity of the expressions at Genesis 1:26 and 3:22 gives us a clue. At Genesis 1:26, we read that Jehovah said: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” To whom was he addressing these words?
Referring to the spirit creature who became the perfect man Jesus, the apostle Paul said: “He is the IMAGE of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth.” (Colossians 1:15, 16) Yes, it seems logical that at Genesis 1:26, Jehovah was speaking to his only-begotten Son, the “master worker,” who was at his side during the creation of the heavens and the earth. (Proverbs 8:22-31) The similarity of the expression at Genesis 3:22 suggests that Jehovah was again speaking to the one closest to him, his only-begotten Son.
"MAN CREATED IN THE IMAGE OR LIKENESS OF ANGELS?"
Jesus was created in the “image & likeness of God, so were the angels & so was mankind. Let me explain—
It cannot mean physical likeness or image because the bible tells us—“God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and FEMALE he created them.”—Genesis 1:26, 27.
Man & woman were to have godlike qualities, likewise Jesus & the angels were created with godlike qualities. This means that man was created with moral qualities and a capacity for spirituality. He could know and learn about God and could have a son- like relationship with God. He had reasoning powers and the faculty of conscience—a sense of right and wrong. Adam was able to represent God on earth, reflecting God’s glory—his fine attributes—to those who would be born.
All of God’s creations (in heaven & on earth) were created to mirror our Creator, reflecting ‘his image and likeness.’
So when man was created, he was made in God’s image, according to his likeness. (Ge 1:26, 27) This, of course, did not mean physical image or appearance, for God is a Spirit, and man is flesh. (Ge 6:3; Joh 4:24) It meant that man, different from the “unreasoning animals” (2Pe 2:12), had reasoning power; he had attributes like those of God, such as love, a sense of justice, wisdom, and power. (Compare Col 3:10.) He had the ability to understand why he existed and his Creator’s purpose toward him. Hence he, unlike the animals, was given the capacity for spirituality. He could appreciate and worship his Creator.
I hope this helps with the confusion :¬)
All the best
Brenda
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