Anthropology:

The Doctrine of Man

REL. 215 Dr. Cary Paulk

The Creation of Man

Man is used to refer to the human race.
Genesis 5:12 , When God created man, he made him in the
likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed
them and named them Man when they were created (cf. Gen.
1:27). The Hebrew term translated Man is ,
, , the same term
used for the name of Adam, and the same term that is sometimes
used of man in distinction from woman (Gen. 2:22, 25; 3:12; Eccl.
7:28).
Therefore the practice of using the same term to refer (1) to male
human beings and (2) to the human race generally is a practice
that originated with God himself, and we should not find it
objectionable or insensitive.

The Creation of Man

Why was man created?
1. God Did Not Need to Create Man, Yet He Created Us
for His Own Glory. (Isa. 43:7; Eph. 1:11-12).
2. Our purpose in life:
1. Our purpose must be to fulfill the reason that
God created us: to glorify him.
2. God deserves all the glory because he is the
creator and made all things, therefore, it is not
wrong for him to take glory for himself.

The Creation of Man

Man created in the image of God (Imago Dei). (
Gen. 1:26)
1. Image of God: The fact that man is in the image of God
means that man is like God and represents God.
Let us make man to be like us and to represent us.

2. The Fall: Gods Image Distorted but not Lost:

(Gen. 9:6). Even though men are sinful, there is still enough likeness

to God remaining in them that to murder another person (to shed

blood is an Old Testament expression for taking a human life) is to
attack the part of creation that most resembles God, and it betrays
an attempt or desire (if one were able) to attack God himself.

The Creation of Man

Man created in the image of God (Imago Dei). (Gen. 1:26)
2. The Fall: Gods Image Distorted but not Lost:
(Gen. 9:6). Even though men are sinful, there is still enough likeness to

God remaining in them that to murder another person (to shed blood
is an Old Testament expression for taking a human life) is to attack the
part of creation that most resembles God, and it betrays an attempt or
desire (if one were able) to attack God himself.
We are still like God and we still represent Godbut the image of God
in us is distorted.
The true nature of man in the image of God was also seen in the
earthly life of Christ.

The Creation of Man

Man created in the image of God (Imago Dei). (
Gen. 1:26)
3. Redemption in Christ: a Progressive Recovering of
More of Gods Image.
The Christian can, even in this life, progressively grow into
more and more likeness to God.
Col. 3:10; 2 Cor. 3:18

4. At Christs Return: Complete Restoration of Gods

Image. (1 Cor. 15:49; 1 John 3:2)

The Creation of Man

Man created in the image of God (Imago Dei). (
Gen. 1:26)
5. Specific Aspects of Our Likeness to God.

Moral
Spiritual
Mental
Relational
Physical: (e.g., we have a body with eyes that allows us to
see similar to God who sees.)

The Creation of Man

Man created in the image of God (Imago Dei). (
Gen. 1:26)
6. Our Great Dignity as Bearers of Gods Image.
Nothing else in the world was created to be like God.
Every human being must be treated with respect that is
due Gods image-bearer.

Man: Male and Female

Why did God
create two sexes?
Can men and
women be equal
and yet have
different roles?
Gen. 1:27, 5:1-2

Man: Male and Female

The creation of man as male and female
shows Gods image in (1) harmonious
interpersonal relationships, (2) equality in
personhood and importance, and (3)
difference in role and authority.

Man: Male and Female

1. Personal Relationships
We were not meant to be alone (Gen. 2:18)
Interpersonal unity comes to its highest expression in
marriage. (Gen. 2:24)

2. Equality in Personhood and Importance

Men and women are made equally in Gods image and
both men and women reflect Gods character in their lives.
Men and women are equally important to God and equally
valuable to him.

Man: Male and Female

2.Equality in Personhood and Importance
Both men and women are equally important; both depend
upon each other; both are worthy of honor.
(1 Cor. 11:11-12)

3. Differences in Roles (5 Views) (See handout)

Effeminate Left
Egalitarian Left
Complementarian Middle
Domineering Right
Violent Right

The Essential Nature of Man

What is the soul?

Spirit? Are they the
same thing?

The Essential Nature of Man

Trichotomy: the view that man is made up of three parts
(body, soul and spirit).
Soulintellect, emotions and will
Spirithigher faculty that comes alive when
someone is converted to Christianity.
Common view is some evangelical teaching, very
few scholarly defenses of it today.
Dichotomy: the view that man is made up of two parts
(body and soul/spirit).
Monism: the view that man is only one element, and that his
body is the person.

The Essential Nature of Man

Biblical Data:
The emphasis of Scripture is on the overall unity of man as a
created being. (Gen. 2:7)
1. Scripture uses spirit and soul interchangeably.

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled, and John 13:21, Troubled in

spirit.
Luke 1:4647: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior.

2. At death, Scripture says either that the soul departs or

the spirit departs.

The Essential Nature of Man

Biblical Data:
2. At death, Scripture says either that the soul departs or
the spirit departs.

Gen. 35:18, her soul was departing, 1 Kings 17:21 Elijah prays for
a dead childs soul to come back into him, Luke 12:20, This night
your soul is required of you.
Into your hand I commit my spirit, (Luke 23:46; Ps. 31:5), spirit
returns to God who gave it (Eccl. 12:7), gave up his spirit, (John
19:30).

The Essential Nature of Man

Biblical Data:
3. Man is said to be either body and soul or body and
spirit.
fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28)
for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 5:5)
the body apart from the spirit is dead (James 2:26),

4. The soul can sin or the spirit can sin.

When Paul encourages the Corinthians to cleanse themselves from

every defilement of body and spirit (2 Cor. 7:1), he clearly implies
that there can be defilement (or sin) in our spirits.

The Essential Nature of Man

Biblical Data:
4. The soul can sin or the spirit can sin.

The soul sinning is implied in 1 Pet. 1:22 and Rev. 18:14

Eccl. 7:8, proud in spirit, err in the spirit, Is. 29:24

The Essential Nature of Man

Biblical Data:
Scripture is very clear that we do have a soul that is distinct
from our physical bodies, which not only can function
somewhat independently of our ordinary thought processes (
1 Cor. 14:14; Rom. 8:16), but also, when we die, is able to go on
consciously acting and relating to God apart from our physical
bodies.
Dying thief today you will be with me in paradise Luke
23:43
Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, (Acts 7:59)

The Essential Nature of Man

Biblical Data:
The book of Revelation reminds us that the souls of those
who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness
they had borne (Rev. 6:9) are in heaven and are able to cry
out to God to bring justice on the earth (Rev. 6:10; cf. also
20:4).
Away from the body and present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8)

The Essential Nature of Man

Where do our souls come from?

1. Creationism is the view that God creates a new soul for each
person and sends it to that persons body sometime between
conception and birth
2. Traducianism on the other hand, holds that the soul as well as
the body of a child are inherited from the babys mother and father
at the time of conception.
3. There is one other popular view called pre-existentianism
namely, that the souls of people exist in heaven long before their
bodies are conceived in the wombs of their mothers, and that God
then brings the soul to earth to be joined with the babys body as
he or she grows in the womb.

The Essential Nature of Man

Where do our souls come from?

Psalm 127 says that sons are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of
the womb a reward (Ps. 127:3). This indicates that not only the soul,
but also the entire person of the child, including his or her body, is a
gift from God. From this standpoint, it seems strange to think of the
mother and father as being responsible by themselves for any aspect
of the childs existence. Was it not the Lord who, David says, knit me
together in my mothers womb (Ps. 139:13)?

Sin
What is sin? Where
did it come from?
Do we inherit a
sinful nature from
Adam? Do we
inherit guilt from
Adam?

Sin
Definition: Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act,
attitude, or nature.
The Origin of Sin:
The first sin was that of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden
(Gen. 3:1-9).
Their sin struck at the basis for knowledge, for it gave a different
answer to the question, What is true? Whereas God had said
that Adam and Eve would die if they ate from the tree (Gen. 2:17),
the serpent said, You will not die (Gen. 3:4). Eve decided to
doubt the truth of Gods word and conduct an experiment to see
whether God spoke truthfully.

Sin
The Origin of Sin:
The first sin was that of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden
(Gen. 3:1-9).
Their sin struck at the basis for moral standards, for it gave
a different answer to the question What is right? God had
said that it was morally right for Adam and Eve not to eat
from the fruit of that one tree (Gen. 2:17). But the serpent
suggested that it would be right to eat of the fruit, and that
in eating it Adam and Eve would become like God (Gen.
3:5)

Sin
The Origin of Sin:
The first sin was that of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden
(Gen. 3:1-9).
Their sin gave a different answer to the question, Who am
I? The correct answer was that Adam and Eve were
creatures of God, dependent on him and always to be
subordinate to him as their Creator and Lord. But Eve, and
then Adam, succumbed to the temptation to be like God
(Gen. 3:5), thus attempting to put themselves in the place
of God.

Sin
The Doctrine of Inherited Sin or Original Sin
1. Inherited Guilt: We Are Counted Guilty Because of Adams Sin.

Paul explains the effects of Adams sin in the following way: Therefore sin
came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death
spread to all men because all men sinned (Rom. 5:12)
This idea, that all men sinned means that God thought of us all as having
sinned when Adam disobeyed, is further indicated by the next two verses,
where Paul says:
Sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not
counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even
over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who
was a
type of the one who was to come. (Rom. 5:1314)

Sin
The Doctrine of Inherited Sin or Original Sin
1. Inherited Guilt: We Are Counted Guilty Because of Adams
Sin.

The idea that God counted us guilty because of Adams sin is

further affirmed in Romans 5:1819:
Then as one mans trespass led to condemnation for all men, so
one mans act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.
For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners
so by
one mans obedience many will be made righteous.

Sin
The Doctrine of Inherited Sin or Original Sin

2. Inherited Corruption: We Have a Sinful Nature Because of

Adams Sin.

In addition to the legal guilt that God imputes to us because of Adams

sin, we also inherit a sinful nature because of Adams sin. This inherited
sinful nature is sometimes simply called original sin and sometimes
more precisely called original pollution.
David says, Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my
mother conceive me (Ps. 51:5)
A similar idea is affirmed in Psalm 58:3, The wicked go astray from the
womb, they err from their birth, speaking lies.

Sin
The Doctrine of Inherited Sin or Original Sin
2. Inherited Corruption: We Have a Sinful Nature Because of
Adams Sin.

Therefore, our nature includes a disposition to sin so that Paul can

affirm that before conversion we were by nature children of wrath, like
the rest of mankind (Eph. 2:3)
Our tendency to sin, which we received from Adam, means that as far
as God is concerned we are not able to do anything that pleases him.
This may be seen in two ways:
1. In our natures, we totally lack any spiritual good before God (Rom.
7:18; Titus 1:15; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-14)

Sin
The Doctrine of Inherited Sin or Original Sin
2. Inherited Corruption: We Have a Sinful Nature Because of
Adams Sin.

Our tendency to sin, which we received from Adam, means that as

far as God is concerned we are not able to do anything that pleases
him. This may be seen in two ways:
1. In our natures, we totally lack any spiritual good before God (Rom.
7:18; Titus 1:15; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-14)
2. In our actions, we are totally unable to do any spiritual good before
God. (Rom. 8:8; John 15:5; Heb. 11:6; Eph. 2:1-2

Sin
Actual Sins
3. Are there degrees of sin?
a. Legal Guilt: In terms of our legal standing before God, any one
sin, even what may seem to be a very small one, makes us legally
guilty before God and therefore worthy of eternal punishment.
Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become
guilty of all of it. For he who said, Do not commit adultery,
said also, Do not kill. If you do not
commit adultery but do
kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. (James 2:1011)

Sin
Actual Sins
3. Are there degrees of sin?
b. Results in Life and in Relationship With God: On the other
hand, some sins are worse than others in that they have more
harmful consequences in our lives and in the lives of others,
and, in terms of our personal relationship to God as Father,
they arouse his displeasure more and bring more serious
disruption to our fellowship with him.

Sin
Actual Sins
3. Are there degrees of sin?
b. Results in Life and in Relationship With God: On the other hand, some sins are
worse than others in that they have more harmful consequences in our lives and in
the lives of others, and, in terms of our personal relationship to God as Father, they
arouse his displeasure more and bring more serious disruption to our fellowship
with him.

Roman Catholic teaching that sins can be put into the two categories of venial and mortal.
In Roman Catholic teaching, a venial sin can be forgiven, but often after punishments in this
life or in Purgatory (after death, but before entrance into heaven). A mortal sin is a sin that
causes spiritual death and cannot be forgiven; it excludes people from the kingdom of God.
According to Scripture, however, all sins are mortal in that even the smallest sin makes us
legally guilty before God and worthy of eternal punishment.

Sin
Actuals Sins
3. Are there degrees of sin?
b. Results in Life and in Relationship With God: On the other hand, some sins are
worse than others in that they have more harmful consequences in our lives and in
the lives of others, and, in terms of our personal relationship to God as Father, they
arouse his displeasure more and bring more serious disruption to our fellowship
with him.

Roman Catholic teaching that sins can be put into the two categories of venial and mortal.
In Roman Catholic teaching, a venial sin can be forgiven, but often after punishments in this
life or in Purgatory (after death, but before entrance into heaven). A mortal sin is a sin that
causes spiritual death and cannot be forgiven; it excludes people from the kingdom of God.
According to Scripture, however, all sins are mortal in that even the smallest sin makes us
legally guilty before God and worthy of eternal punishment.

Sin
Actuals Sins
4. What happens when a Christian sins?
a. Legal standing before God is unchanged (Rom. 8:1; Rom.
6:23)
b. Fellowship with God is disrupted and Christian testimony
is damaged
Grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30)
Disciplined (Heb. 12:6)
Loss of heavenly rewards (1 Cor. 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10).

Sin
Unpardonable Sin
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven
men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven;
but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,
either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt. 12:3132)
An unusually malicious, willful rejection and slander against the
Holy Spirits work attesting to Christ, and attributing that work to
Satan.

Sin
Unpardonable Sin
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven
men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven;
but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,
either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt. 12:3132)
An unusually malicious, willful rejection and slander against the
Holy Spirits work attesting to Christ, and attributing that work to
Satan.

Sin
The Punishment of Sin
Although Gods punishment of sin does serve as a deterrent
against further sinning and as a warning to those who
observe it, this is not the primary reason why God punishes
sin. The primary reason is that Gods righteousness demands
it so that he might be glorified in the universe that he has
created.