CHAPTER THREE

THE DOCTRINE OF
MAN
ANTHROPOLOGY

Week -1
I - INTRODUCTION
Only the Scriptures give a solid and satisfying answer to the age-long
question, "Who is Man?" Therefore, any serious work on Bible doctrine must
cope with this question. In academic circles, the study of Man is called
"Anthropology," which is derived from two Greek words: Anthropos, which
means "man," and logos, which means "discourse or reason." Biblical
anthropology deals with Man as God's creation, Man as a sinner alienated from
God by voluntary disobedience, and Man as the object of God's Redeeming
Grace. Scientific anthropology, according to Webster, is: "The study of man,
especially of the variety, physical and cultural characteristics, distribution,
customs, social relationships, etc. of mankind."
I - INTRODUCTION
In this approach to Anthropology we shall study Man as he is portrayed in the
Scriptures. The Psalmist asks the question, "What is man?" and answers the
question as follows: "For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and
hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion
over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet. . . ." (Ps. 8:5-
6).
But then man disobeyed and fell short of the glory of God; therefore, when
the writer of Hebrews quoted from Psalm chapter eight, he added: "But now we
see not yet all things put under him. 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" (Heb. 2:8b,9).
I - INTRODUCTION
The following scriptural study of Man will fall under these
categories: (1) Man Created by God, (2) Man the Result of
Divine Purpose, (3) Man Created in God's Image, (4) Man
Created a Living Soul, (5) Man's Primitive State, (6) The Fall
of Man, and (7) Man in the State of Grace.
Discussions and recitations
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
A. Not Evolved from Lower Life Forms.
The Bible attributes the origin of Man to an act of direct creation by
God, "So God created man in His own image. . . ." (Gn. 1:27)."And
the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed in to
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gn. 2:7).
In our public school systems, pupils are taught that man evolved from
the lower animals, and that all life over a vast expanse of time came
from a single life form that came into being from an unknown origin.
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
A. Not Evolved from Lower Life Forms.
Honest teachers admit that the "theory of evolution" is, in fact, only a
theory or hypothesis advanced to explain origins without introducing the
supernatural, which science cannot study. The theory of evolution is
generally attributed to Charles Darwin, who first popularized the
hypothesis in the middle of the 19th century. His theory was received by
materialists everywhere. Mendel's law of heredity seemed to prove that
species were fixed, and that acquired characteristics could not be inherited.
Later scientists gave the name "genes" to the remarkable factors that
control heredity.
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
A. Not Evolved from Lower Life Forms.
The most powerful evidence for creation and against evolution is,
in our opinion, to he found in specific evidences of intelligent,
purposeful design. This evidence is all around us and is something the
layman as well as the scientist can appreciate. The authors of The
Creation Explanation: accept the claim of the Bible to be the Word of
God. They accept the opening chapters of Genesis, therefore, to be
true to scientific fact. This is their fundamental postulate and they
make no apology for it.
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
B. Exists by Special Creation.
Three Hebrew words are used in Genesis chapters one and two to
describe Man's creation: (1) bara - defined as meaning "the production
or effectuation of something new, rare, and wonderful," (2) asah -
meaning "to form, to construct, to prepare, to build" and (3) yatzar -
meaning "to form or shape" (as a potter forming vessels). In Genesis
1:26, the Triune God says, "Let us MAKE man" (asah); in Genesis
1:27, we read, "So God CREATED man" (bara); Genesis 2:7, states,
"And the Lord God FORMED man" (Yatzar).
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
B. Exists by Special Creation.
The idea in 1:26 is that God constructed Man in conformity with
His own image; in 1:27, He created Man as something new and
wonderful in His purpose; and in 2:7, He formed and shaped Man
from the earth as a potter forms a vessel of clay. The "dust of the
ground" (2:7) identifies Man with the scene of his fall and his
redemption; the breath of God identifies his origin with his Maker and
his intended heavenly destiny, Man is of the earth, but he is intended
for fellowship with God.
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
B. Exists by Special Creation.
The declaration of Man's creation by God is not confined to two or
three verses; it is affirmed or assumed throughout Holy Scripture.
Genesis 51b and 2a continues: "In the day that God created [bara]
man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he
them In Genesis 6:7, "And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I
have created [baral. . . ." Moses says in Deuteronomy 4:32, concerning
the miraculous deliverance from Egypt:
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
B. Exists by Special Creation.
"For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before
thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from
one side of heaven to the other, whether there has been any such thing
as this great thing is From the inspired quill of the prophet Isaiah come
the following statements: "But now thus saith the Lord that created
thee (43:1); "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have
created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him"
(43:7);
II- MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
B. Exists by Special Creation.
"I have made the earth, and created man upon it. . . ." (45:12). And
from Malachi 2:10a: "Have we not all one father? hath not one God
created us?" That Man was created by God is clearly stated by New
Testament writers. Paul says: "And have put on the new man, who is
renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him that CREATED
him. . . ." (Col. 3:10). (See also 1 Tm. 2:13; Rom. 9:20; 1 Cor. 15:45;
Jas. 3:9.)