We should give careful consideration to the question of what is implied by the words which are put into the mouth of God. “Come and let us go down and confuse their tongue there” (Gen. 11:7). For it is clear that He is conversing with some persons whom He treats as His fellow-workers, and we find the same in an earlier passage of the formation of man. Here we have “The Lord God said ‘let us make man in our own image and likeness’ ” (Gen. 1:26); where the words “let us make” imply plurality. And once more, “God said, ‘behold Adam has become as one of us by knowing good and evil’ ” (Gen. 3:22); here the “us” in “as one of us” is said not of one, but of more than one. Now we must first lay down that no existing thing is of equal honour to God and that there is only one sovereign and ruler and king, who alone may direct and dispose of all things. For the lines: It is not well that many lords should rule; Be there but one, one king, could be said with more justice of the world and of God than of cities and men. For being one it must needs have one maker and father and master.
On the Confusion of Tongues 33
Tap any verse to see what it echoes — and start a chain or echo from it.