02.10. Anthropology (Man)

ANTHROPOLOGY (MAN) I.Origin Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-25

II. Nature Body – 2 Corinthians 5:1; Daniel 7:15 Soul – Intellect, Will, Emotion Spirit – Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16 Intuition, Conscience, Communion III.Imago Dei Kinship with God

Moral Character

Reason Capacity for Immortality Dominion over the Earth At Fall the image of God in man has been marred but not erased (Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9). Man has not lost his freedom of will and power of reasoning. However, they have been severely depraved by sin. Therefore, without the work of the Holy Spirit no man can be saved. No man can climb uphill to God (Exodus 20:26). God, in Christ, and through the Spirit, meets man where he is and reconciles him to Himself (Romans 5:8; Galatians 5:16; 1 Corinthians 12:3).

IV. Original Sin Pelagianism – Man’s soul is created by God at birth and so is free from hereditary corruption.

Arminianism – Man receives from Adam a corrupted nature but does not receive Adam’s guilt. This nature is corrupted physically and intellectually, but not volitionally. Prevenient grace enables man to believe.

Calvinism – 2 Views: Federal Headship (creationist view of origin of the soul) – The individual receives the physical nature from parents. God creates each soul. Adam was representative of all humanity and thus, when he sinned all humanity sinned. Natural Headship (traducianist view of origin of soul-Augustine) – The individual receives the physical nature and the soul from the parents. Thus, all people were present in Adam in germinal or seminal form. Each individual participates in the sin of Adam. Thus, each individual inherits Adam’s sin.

Conclusion: Humanity suffers death as physically (naturally) born of Adam (natural headship); Christians receive eternal life as a gift, by faith, being born, not physically but, spiritually (spiritual headship of Christ) (1 Corinthians 15:45-50; John 1:13; John 3:5-6; 1 Peter 1:23).