Chapter Two

Since the dawn of time man has questioned the reason for his existence. He has searched the philosophies of the world, the religions of each continent, and asked great thinkers of his day perplexing questions regarding the meaning of life (these are questions regarding man's purpose for existence, of how to plan for eternity, and of the general meaning of life itself). With this immense interest in the meaning of life, it is obvious that we must be thoroughly informed regarding the truth of the Bible. The Bible deals with man's existence, origin, and reason for living. King David made this acute observation as he wrote:

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son man, that thou visitest him?"

The Apostle Paul taught this important truth when he preached to the Athenians on his second missionary journey:

"Neither is worshiped with man's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things...For in him we live, and move, and have our being..." Acts 17:25,28

Man has always wanted to know who he is, where he came from, and where he is going. Even the very early rhymes our children remind us of man's unquenchable desire to know his origin. One such rhyme states, "Where did you come from, Baby dear? Out of nowhere into here". God has a gracious love and concern for His creation, which is wonderfully expressed in His inerrant Word. In the Scripture we find the answers to all the questions asked by Pericles, Plato, and Socrates in the agora of Athens four hundred years before the Apostle Paul. The practice of meeting in the market place to debate the circumstances of man continued from generation to generation, down to the first century. The Epicureans and Stoics said that Paul brought "certain strange things" to their ears regarding the nature of man, his life, and his resurrection. These "thinkers" of their day had varied religious and scientific backgrounds. The materialistic Epicureans denied life after death, while the self-righteous Stoics were pantheistic. Both groups needed the message of the Gospel and correct teaching regarding the Origin of man. The first words of Genesis begin unfolding the truth of creation, over which man was given dominion. It was man's God-given responsibility to rule over the creation. Adam was to make all creation subservient to his will and purpose, so that it would magnify the Creator. This special creation originated from God, and will some day end with the New Heaven and New Earth! It should not disturb us that Moses began Genesis with the solemn words, "In the beginning God created." This is certainly the truth regarding creation, and the beginning of the account of man's role on earth. The Lord created the light, and the firmament and seas, in preparation for the creation of man. What tremendous love and concern God had for man. God made ready the physical world for man, and subsequently fellowship with his Creator. Man was the object of God's love. The Lord in His grace, wisdom, and decree, created man distinct from the other living creatures.

"And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness... so God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:26a,27

There had been a Divine council in Heaven. God had spoken into existence His creation, thereby showing His omnipotence. Man was created from the dust of the earth, in the image of God. This truth underlies all other truth regarding man's true relationship to God. This description of man's creation has great significance for each of us. It is the mark of God upon each man, woman, and child. Man was created in God's image; therefore, God has the authority to demand that mankind respond to Him correctly. The Bible is clear on this subject:

"Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God." James 3:9

"For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of man." I Corinthians 11:7

This "image" of God is the threefold quality (trichotomy) of man. God is a triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God, being three persons in One, created man in His own image. Man was created with a spirit, soul, and body. The Apostle Paul teaches this in a definitive statement in his writing to Thessalonica:

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  I Thessalonians 5:23

A number of theologians hold the view that man is a twofold (dichotomy) being, with only a body and a spirit. They remark that God breathed into man the breath of life, then man became a living soul. With extensive reasoning they ignore the obvious Bible passages which teach that the spirit and the soul are two distinct parts of man's being.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow..." Hebrews 4:12 

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength..." Mark 12:30

"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior." Luke 1:46,47

When man was created in the image of God, how did he relate to a triune God? What does being in His image mean? Are we to assume that God is a biunity? This would be preposterous and contradictory. God is a Trinity. Man was created in the image of Almighty God. Could this image be other than body, soul, and spirit? In the New Testament there are three words which describe man's threefold being: soma for body; psuche for soul; and pneuma for spirit. In the Hebrew it is nephish hayya, which is translated, "living soul," meaning that God made man with the capacity to love Him in righteousness and holiness. Mr. Bill Gothard, states, that in man's spirit he has "the desire and ability to discern spiritual truth,"¹ in his soul or mind he has the "basis of sound doctrine by relating his life to Christ's words and character,"² and in his body "he produces the fruit of the spirit."³ This makes man unique among all the created beings in the world. His Origin and relationship to his Creator are central to understanding the biblical view of creation, and man's responsibility to His Creator.

Footnotes

1. Gothard, William Institute of Basic Youth Conflicts (New

Jersey, 1979.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.