The Latin word communis means “common” or “shared by all.” It is the root for communication, community, communion, and commune. Community can form around our shared interests, values, purpose, resources, or responsibility. Communis implies a reciprocal relationship; community members give and receive within this shared culture.
The concept of communis is central to the story of creation. In Genesis 2:15, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” According to The Moody Bible Commentary, the emphasis here was not on the gardening assignment—as is often communicated. Instead, God is the subject, and His main action is the “taking” and “putting” of Adam. In the Hebrew, the verb for “put” means “to set him at rest.” This rest God intended for Adam in the Garden of Eden was not primarily a physical rest. After all, Adam was given work to do! Rather, this rest was “an all- encompassing rest of faith.”
The Moody Bible Commentary continues: “God immediately placed him in that state for which man was originally intended, the state of being in full relationship with God, the state of being at spiritual rest in and with Him.” Thus, man was created to commune—primarily with God.
However, God also created humans to live in community. The only aspect of creation that God declared “not good” was Adam’s lack of human partnership (v. 18). When the animals were brought before Adam, he used language to give them names—just as God had done (v. 19). But the suitable “helper” for Adam was not found, so God fashioned for Adam a perfect partner, Eve. Adam’s first recorded words are a poetic declaration of their complementary (v. 23), enduring (v. 24), and unabashed union (v. 25).
Go Deeper
Where have you experienced reciprocal community in your life? Where is God calling you to grow in communion?
Pray with Us
How easily we grow distracted and forget that we were created to commune with You, God! There is nothing better than spiritual rest in and with You. Help us fix our eyes on You.
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”Genesis 2:23
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