The formal system of naming living things is referred to as binomial nomenclature. It is attributed to Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, who is credited to have introduced this method of naming living things, in his work entitled Species Plantarum in the mid 1700s. Carl Linnaeus is often referred to as the “Father of classification”. But from the Bible, we can see that the ‘first’ father of classification is God’s first human, the man (or Adam), for God brought to Adam (the man) all the living creatures that he had formed to see what Adam would call them and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof (Genesis 2:19).
The Bible teaches us that all those who believe in Jesus Christ, though they are dead, yet shall they live – meaning that they are living beings (John 11:25). The Bible also teaches us that those who do the will of God the father belong to the family of God as Jesus’ brothers, sisters and mothers (Matthew 12:50).
Points to ponder:
Ever wonder why God did not just name the creatures he formed and then bring it to the man, Adam. God could have just told the man then what every living creature was to be called. From reading this text, we learn that God wanted to see what the first Adam would name his living creatures. Note, the reference here is only to living creatures, which included all creatures formed by God, for death had not yet entered the world. We can extrapolate this account, to God bringing each one of us, to Jesus, the last Adam, in whom we are made alive when we believe in him, to see what Jesus would call us. Will we be called the children of God? (1 John 3:1; Hebrews 2:10) Will Jesus call us “his” – as one of his family – a brother or a sister or a mother (Hebrews 2:11; Matthew 12:50)? In other words, are we doing the will of God for the last Adam to include us as part of his binomial nomenclature to be called by his name – as one in his family i.e., God’s family.
Genesis 2:19-20 (KJV)
19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
John 11:25 (KJV)
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Matthew 12:48-50 (KJV)
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Hebrews 2:9-11 (KJV)
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
