SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY SERIES (05) - Human Beings

In this post, we will look at some basic biblical truths about human beings. This post is adapted from my systematic theology book - Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible.

​Humans are made in the image of God:

“26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27, NRSV)

The first man was called “Adam”.  God made a wife for him.  She was later named “Eve” by Adam.  She was to be his companion and helper:

“18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.”” (Genesis 2:18, NRSV)

“21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.” 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:21–24, NRSV)

Adam and Eve are the first example of a marriage.  Whilst society has defined marriage in various ways over the years (including polygamous marriage), the first marriage in the Bible (Adam and Eve) was between one man and one woman.  When Jesus commented on marriage, He cited “the beginning” as the standard we are to follow.  For this reason, followers of Jesus accept marriage as the union between one man and one woman:

“4 He answered, “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”” (Matthew 19:4–6, NRSV)

When God created Adam, He placed him in the Garden of Eden to look after it and permitted him to eat of any tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil:

“15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”” (Genesis 2:15–17, NRSV)

​As I understand it, Adam was not to eat from the forbidden tree because God wanted a relationship with him.  Eating from the forbidden tree would mean that Adam would know good and evil by himself, instead of depending on God for the wisdom he needed.  Notice that every tree in the garden was “pleasant to the sight” and “good for food”:

“9 Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9, NRSV)

The forbidden tree was also good for food and pleasant to the sight. However, the marked difference about the forbidden tree was that it was also able to “make one wise”.  In other words, it was able to give wisdom independently of a relationship with God:

“6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6, NRSV)

The devil came to Adam’s wife in the form of a serpent and deceived her into eating from the forbidden tree.  She then gave some of the fruit to Adam, and he ate it also:

“6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6, NRSV)

Although Adam and Eve did not die physically there and then, they instantly died spiritually when they ate the fruit.  Consequently, all their descendants are born spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1).  It was through this transgression that the devil gained his position of influence in the world.  Since the disobedience of Adam and Eve, all human beings have been born with a sinful nature (i.e. an inclination towards sin).  By “sin”, we mean doing things that are wrong in God’s sight:

“14 For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin.” (Romans 7:14, NRSV)

“18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.” (Romans 7:18, NRSV)

“23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23, NRSV)

“17 All wrongdoing is sin…” (1 John 5:17, NRSV)

Humans are comprised of spirit, soul and body:

“23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NRSV)

The Greek words for “soul” and “spirit” have various meanings depending on the context in which they are used.  Here, “soul” is likely a reference to the aspect of our being that is the source of our desires/emotions. The word “spirit” in this instance likely refers to the part of us that connects with God:

“16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Romans 8:16, NRSV)

The body is the physical part of our being and is where the sinful nature inherited from Adam resides:

“23 But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.” (Romans 7:23, HCSB)

Because God loves us, He doesn’t want to leave us in our fallen condition, and has therefore made salvation available to everyone, which we will look at in the next post:

“16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NRSV)