Imago Dei and Ecological Responsibility: An Exegetical Study of Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:15 in the Context of Africa’s Climate Crisis

Journal of Climate Justice
An International Peer-Reviewed Journal in Environmental Science
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2026
Pages: 119–128
Online ISSN: 3139-8529

Geoffrey Pilirani Jonasi
Lilongwe, Malawi, Central Africa
piliranijonasi@gmail.com

Received: 16th May 2026
Revised: 5th June 2026
Published: July 2026

Key words

Genesis; imago Dei; ecological responsibility; climate justice; African eco-theology; Ubuntu/Umunthu; creation care

Abstract

This article offers an exegetical and contextual reading of Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 2:15 in response to the ecological and climate crises affecting Africa. It argues that the imago Dei should not be interpreted as a mandate for human superiority, domination, or unrestricted exploitation of the earth. Rather, the image of God calls human beings into responsible participation within God’s community of creation. Through an examination of the substantial, relational, and functional interpretations of the imago Dei, the study shows that human capacity to reason, relate, and act must be directed toward care, justice, and the safeguarding of life. Genesis 2:15 strengthens this reading by presenting human vocation as service, cultivation, and protection. In the African context, where climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and ecological vulnerability threaten communities and ecosystems, the biblical witness offers a theological basis for climate justice, ecological responsibility, and the renewal of life-giving relationships among God, humanity, and the whole creation.