thinking bible.

You asked

how do other biblical texts speak to humanity's role in or responsibility for creation?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

This verse is part of the first creation account in the Bible, found in the book of Genesis. It describes God's blessing and instructions to the first humans immediately after their creation, setting out their place and purpose in the newly formed world.

How does understanding 'subdue' and 'rule' as responsibilities rather than entitlements change our view of humanity's place in the world?

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Read alongside it

  • Genesis 2:15

    Describes humanity's task to 'tend and keep' the Garden, adding a nuance of care to dominion.

  • Psalm 8:6-8

    Celebrates humanity's elevated position and authority over creation, echoing the Genesis mandate.

  • Romans 8:19-22

    Suggests creation itself groans and waits for humanity's redemption, linking human fate with the earth's.

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