Generations of Christians have wrestled with what the divine mandate in the Book of Genesis declares that humanity is given “dominion” over the Earth (Genesis 1:26). For some, the word has been misread as permission to subdue, exploit, or exhaust the natural world as a resource bank meant solely for human advancement.
But buried within Scripture itself is a correctiveโa radical redefinition of leadership and power found in the life and teachings of Jesus.
Taken together, these two biblical anchors tell a story: humanity was never meant to be a tyrant over creation, but a steward of it.
The Misread Word: Dominion as Control
The Hebrew word radah, often translated as โdominion,โ has long carried interpretive weight.
Historically, dominion has been conflated with dominationโa license for extraction, industrial expansion, and unrestrained consumption. From the logging of ancient forests to the pollution of rivers and seas, the notion that humanity stands above creation has shaped environmental attitudes across centuries.
But theologians, linguists, and environmental ethicists say this reading falls short of the biblical intent. Dominion, in its true scriptural essence, was never designed to mirror tyranny. It meant responsibility, care, and governanceโa relational role that safeguards life.
Jesus Reframes Power
Then comes Jesus of Nazarethโteacher, healer, and at times, a challenger of prevailing worldviews. In Mark 10:42-45, He lays down a leadership ethic that flips societal norms on their head:
โWhoever wants to become great among you must be your servantโฆ
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.โ
In this moment, Jesus rewrites the meaning of authority. True power is expressed not in ruling over others, but in serving them. Greatness is not in grasping but in giving. Leadership is not control but self-giving love.
This teaching does more than reshape interpersonal ethicsโit casts new light on the Creation story.
Dominion Through the Lens of Christ
If the dominion of Genesis is read through the leadership model of Jesus, a striking interpretation emerges: humanityโs role is not to dominate creation, but to serve it.
The Earth is not an empire to conquer; it is a community of life to which we belong, and to which we owe protection. Mountains, oceans, forests, and creatures are not commoditiesโthey are fellow participants in Godโs handiwork. Stewardship becomes the highest form of worship, a tangible expression of servant-leadership.
Under this lens, caring for creation is not a secular environmental agendaโit is an act of discipleship.
A Call for Stewardly Leadership Today
Across the Philippines and the world, climate disasters, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation have reached alarming levels. Coastal towns drown in storm surges, rivers choke with waste, and indigenous lands disappear under extractive industries. Many faith communities are beginning to recognize that spiritual decline and ecological decline often mirror each other.
The biblical narrative invites a shift: from dominion-as-exploitation to dominion-as-stewardship; from power over creation to power for creation.
Church leaders, youth groups, local governments, and community advocates are increasingly turning to this theology of service. Whether through mangrove planting, watershed protection, renewable energy, or simply reducing waste, these efforts echo a central Christian truth: to lead is to serve, and to serve includes safeguarding Godโs creation.
Returning to the Original Calling
In the end, the Creation story and the Gospel message are not at odds. They are two chapters of the same divine narrativeโone gives humanity responsibility, the other teaches us how to carry it out.
Dominion was never meant to justify the destruction of the world entrusted to us. Jesus shows what dominion looks like when lived faithfully: humble, attentive, protective, and life-giving.
We were never placed on Earth to rule as conquerors. We were placed here to serve as caretakers.
And perhaps, in rediscovering this truth, humanity may yet find its way back to harmony with creationโand with the Creator who called it good.
About The Author
