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Genesis is the first book of the Bible. Genesis 1 describes the creation of the heavens and the earth, while Genesis 2 focuses on the creation of the first humans, Adam and Eve: Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

Genesis 1 explains how:

• God is the only creator.
• God existed before he created the world.
• The world was well planned and is sustained by God.
• God blessed creation; all creation is holy.
• God created everything in Heaven and on Earth in six days.
• On the seventh day, God rested.

The Bible teaches Christians that God created humans in his image. This does not mean that humans physically have the same appearance as God. Instead, they have certain characteristics that they share with God, such as being loving. For Christians, this shows how important all humans are to God and explains their special relationship with him. It is also a reminder to them that humans should try to behave like God, showing love and being forgiving.

Stewardship and dominion

Christians believe that God appointed human beings to be in charge of what he created, and to care for the world as responsible custodians. Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ (Genesis 1:26)

Many Christians understand this as evidence that humans have dominion over God’s creation. This could suggest that humans have the power to use the world and its resources as they like, but it does not mean that humanity should exploit the Earth’s resources.

This teaching suggests that humanity’s purpose is to look after the world that God has created. This is known as stewardship.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)