The Divinity of Jesus in the Book of Genesis
In the Book of Genesis, the divinity of Jesus is hinted at through numerous symbolic references and foreshadowings, revealing His eternal role in creation and salvation. Genesis 1:1 begins with, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," a phrase that points to the Triune God, including Jesus as the Word of God. In John 1:1, it is confirmed that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," establishing Jesus' divine participation in creation. Genesis 1:26, where God says, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," further alludes to the plurality of God, hinting at the presence of Jesus in the creative process.
Jesus' divinity is also reflected in the story of the Fall in Genesis 3, where the promise of redemption is made through the protoevangelium, the first gospel message. God speaks to the serpent, proclaiming that the "seed of the woman" would crush its head (Genesis 3:15). This prophecy is seen by Christians as the first indication of Jesus' future incarnation, emphasizing His divine mission to defeat sin and Satan. Although not directly named, this reference to the "seed" sets the foundation for understanding Jesus as the coming Messiah, divinely appointed to restore humanity to its intended state.
Moreover, in Genesis, Jesus is symbolically represented in various theophanies, including when the Lord appears to Abraham in Genesis 18. Here, three visitors come to Abraham, one of whom speaks as the Lord Himself. Many theologians see this as a Christophany, where the pre-incarnate Christ makes His divine presence known. Through these encounters, the divinity of Jesus is not only suggested but also integrated into the fabric of the Genesis narrative, establishing His eternal nature and His central role in God's plan for humanity.
