The Doctrine of Man

 

I. Origins and The Image of God The biblical doctrine of human origins rejects both atheistic evolution (which relies on the survival of the fittest but cannot account for the first life) and theistic evolution (which posits God creating lower forms that evolved into higher ones). Instead, it asserts theistic creation, affirming that man is a direct creation of God.

Man was uniquely created in the image of God; because God is Spirit and lacks physical parts, this image does not denote physical likeness. Rather, it refers to spiritual endowments, supremacy, and original righteousness (Eph 4:2). The original man possessed intelligent faculties—demonstrated by his ability to attach words to ideas when naming the animals (Gen 2:19-20)—and moral faculties, evidenced by his volitional power to yield to or resist the moral test in Genesis 3.

II. The Constitution of Man's Being Theology offers two main theories regarding human constitution: the Dichotomous theory (man as a bipartite being of body and soul/spirit) and the Trichotomous theory, which is more consistent with Scripture. Under the Trichotomous theory, man is a tripartite being:

• Spirit (Pneuma / Ruach): This is the eternal, God-conscious part of man capable of worship. In the believer, this spirit joins with the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:17), and regeneration occurs specifically in the spirit.

• Soul (Psyche): This is the self-conscious part capable of knowing oneself, possessing the will, and acting as the central connecting agent between the body and spirit. It serves as the primary battleground between good and evil.

• Body (Soma): This is the world-conscious, physical tabernacle or house through which sensory perception operates (2 Cor 5:1-4).

All divine communications must travel from the spirit, through the soul, to the body. True spiritual worship is directed by the abilities of the human spirit rather than the intellect or emotions of the soul. If a person is dominated merely by the soul, they will display the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19).

III. The Fall of Man and Its Ramifications Genesis 3 outlines the historical fall of man, explaining how sin entered the human race through volitional rebellion. The scriptural interpretation of this event is literal, tied to historic geographical locations.

The immediate result for Adam and Eve included a cursed ground, exhausting physical labor, sorrow in childbearing, and the subjection of woman to man (Gen 3:16-19). Regarding the impact on the entire human race, orthodox theology adopts the Augustinian Theory: Adam’s sin is directly imputed to his offspring, rendering man totally spiritually dead, as opposed to the Pelagian theory (man is morally well) or the Semi-Pelagian theory (man is half-sick).

Scripture teaches that all men are sinners under condemnation and wrath (Rom 3:9, 19, 23; Rom 5:12). The unregenerate are considered children of the devil (1 John 3:8-10) and are in helpless captivity to Satan (Eph 2:3). The Fall universally devastated the human trichotomy:

• The Body became prone to physical death and was cursed (Gen 2).

• The Soul became doomed to hell (Rev 20) and subjected to a law that only affected the flesh without bringing righteousness (Gal 3:10-14). Christ's blood must specifically be applied to the soul, which serves as the "sin-seat".

• The Spirit became entirely dead in sins (Eph 2:1).

References for The Doctrine of Man

Primary Source

• Madurasinghe, Lakshman. CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE-Basic-reader-Prof.Lakshman-2015.pdf. Foundations of Christian Faith. 2015.

Historical & Theological References

• The Augustinian Theory: Referenced as the orthodox view of the Fall, positing that Adam's sin and total depravity are imputed to all offspring.

• Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian Theories: Referenced as the contrasting anthropological views which incorrectly assert man is either morally well or only partially affected by the Fall.

• Trichotomous vs. Dichotomous Theories: The theological frameworks used to define the constitutional makeup of man (spirit, soul, and body).

Primary Scriptural References

• Creation and Constitution: Ephesians 4:2; Genesis 2:19-20; 1 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 5:1-4.

• The Fall and its Immediate Results: Genesis 3 (literal historical account); Genesis 3:16-19.

• Ramifications on the Human Race: Romans 3:9, 19, 23; Romans 5:12; 1 John 3:8-10; Ephesians 2:1, 3; Revelation 20; Galatians 3:10-14; Galatians 5:19.