Doctrine of Man

MAN

God's highest creation, made in God's own image.

The Origin of Man. The Bible states that man was created by God. This truth is found especially in Gen 1:26-31 and 2:7-25. These passages teach that God did not use any previously existing living creature in bringing man into being.

In the second account, God is described as using "dust of the earth" (Gen 2:7) to form man. Some have understood this to represent some high form of life that was still sub-human. This view, sometimes called "theistic evolution," maintains that man's physical nature developed from other forms of life through evolution, but that God modified or adapted this previously existing creature by giving it a soul. This approach interprets the passage somewhat more symbolically. Others, however, have taken this passage literally and understand the reference to dust as meaning that God actually created man from dust.

The Age of Man. Some early students believed that by tracing the genealogies in the Bible and adding up the ages of the persons involved in the several generations, it was possible to establish a date for the creation of man. Perhaps the most extensive effort of this type was that done by Bishop James Ussher, who calculated the origin of man at 4004 BC

Closer study of the genealogies has revealed, however, that they cannot be used in quite this fashion. Thus, the apparent difference between the facts of Scripture and the great age which anthropologists assign to man is found not to be quite so serious. Attempts to relate Adam to any of the ancient specimens of man discovered by anthropologists will depend upon how we define humanity, because we know little about Adam's appearance, size, brain capacity, and so forth. Various Christian anthropologists assign dates for man's origin anywhere from 1,000,000 to 50,000 years ago.

The Makeup of Man. Some scientists believe man is composed of two or more components. They see man as made up of body and soul. Other scientists, basing their argument upon 1 Thess 5:23, assign three parts-body, soul, and spirit-to man. It appears, however, from passages such as John 12:27 and 13:21 that soul and spirit may be used interchangeably in the Bible as terms meaning essentially the same thing.
More recently, biblical scholarship has declared man to be more of a unity. Actions of man are not pictured as issuing from his body, soul, or spirit, but from the whole person.

The Role of Man. Man was created for fellowship or communion with God. Unlike any of the other creatures, he has a fundamental likeness to God: he is created in the "image of God" (Gen 1:26-27). Man meets and talks with God in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:15-17). This was the original intention of God for man. It also becomes God's continuing intention, as He repeatedly intervenes to draw man back to Himself. Ultimately, the Redeemer-Jesus-was sent for this reason as well. Man is not only to have fellowship with God; he is to glorify Him, by what he is and what he does (1 Cor 10:31; Eph 1:12).

Man is also created to do God's will and work. Man was created in God's image so he might "have dominion" over the rest of creation (Gen 1:26,28) or perform God's work of ruling the creation in His place. This assignment of work to be done came before the FALL. As a result of the Fall, work took on its unpleasant or cursed character (Gen 3:17-19).

The Restoration of Man. God has acted to restore man to his original state of innocence and fellowship with God. He has done this by sending His Son to die for man so man might be reconciled to God and be renewed or "born again" (John 3:3,7). The aim of this is to restore man to a dynamic, vital relationship with God (Rom 6:4; 2 Cor 5:20).

Man is most fully human when fulfilling the intention of God for him: worshiping, serving, and loving God. Of all creatures, only man has been given this blessed privilege.