Topical Bible: Man: Created: A Living Soul

◄ Man: Created: A Living Soul ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The creation of man as a living soul is a foundational concept in the biblical narrative, emphasizing the unique nature and purpose of humanity in God's creation. According to the Book of Genesis, man was created by God as the pinnacle of His creative work, distinct from all other creatures.

Creation of Man

The account of man's creation is found in Genesis 1:26-27 : "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This passage highlights the divine intention and deliberation in creating man, setting humanity apart by being made in the image and likeness of God.

A Living Soul

Genesis 2:7 provides further insight into the creation of man: "Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." The Hebrew word for "living being" is often translated as "living soul," indicating that man is not merely a physical entity but possesses a spiritual dimension imparted by the breath of God. This act of God breathing life into man signifies the intimate relationship between the Creator and humanity, as well as the spiritual vitality that distinguishes man from other forms of life.

The Image of God

Being created in the image of God endows humanity with inherent dignity and worth. This concept implies that humans reflect certain attributes of God, such as rationality, morality, creativity, and the capacity for relationships. The image of God also establishes the foundation for human responsibility and stewardship over creation, as seen in Genesis 1:28 : "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.'"

Theological Implications

The creation of man as a living soul carries significant theological implications. It underscores the belief in the sanctity of human life, as each person is a unique creation of God with a soul that bears His image. This understanding shapes the Christian perspective on issues such as the value of life, human rights, and ethical behavior.

Furthermore, the concept of man as a living soul points to the eternal nature of the human spirit. While the physical body is subject to decay and death, the soul is believed to endure beyond this life, highlighting the importance of spiritual matters and the relationship between humanity and God.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of man as a living soul reveals the profound nature of human existence as intended by God. It affirms the special status of humanity within creation and calls individuals to live in accordance with the divine image they bear.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

State in which Man was Created. The Faculties of the Soul --The ...
... Spirit which believers receive from Christ, with the living soul which Adam was
created (1:Cor ... Accordingly, he elsewhere shows that the new man is renewed ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 state in which.htm

The Earthy Material of which Flesh is Created Wonderfully Improved ...
... Chapter VII."The Earthy Material of Which Flesh is Created Wonderfully Improved
by God's Manipulation ... At the time that man became a living soul by the ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter vii the earthy material of.htm

Some Considerations in Reply Eulogistic of the Flesh it was ...
... he might be able to exercise his mastery, being created by the ... upon his face the
breath of life, and man (that is, the clay) became a living soul; and God ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter v some considerations in reply.htm

The Creaturely Man.
... therefore were in Adam when he was created"then we ... gave us life, when the Lord formed
man of the ... and breathed into his nostrils and made him a living soul. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/vii the creaturely man.htm

On the Creation of Man after the Image of God
... Its excellence above other living creatures, and its peculiar ... is never taken wholly
away from the soul, although it ... X. Thus was man created, that he might know ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxvi on the creation.htm

What is Man?
... the whole and sole end, for which every man upon the ... were brought into the world,
and endued with a living soul. ... You were not created to please your senses, to ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 109 what is man.htm

From the Creation to the Fall.
... into the nostrils of that human form that which made him become a living soul. ... of
which man must "love his wife as his own flesh." Man is created in the ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter i from the creation.htm

Man's Place in the World.
... between the sexes is apparently implanted in all living beings primarily ... animals,
birds, and, last of all, woman, were created to meet man's innate social ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study i mans place in.htm

Figure, Image, Truth: Law, Grace, Glory; Man Created Immortal ...
... an end to sin by means of death, lest man immortal, living a sinner, and sin living
in him ... Wherefore he died, although he had not been created liable to ...
/.../chapter ii figure image truth law.htm

The Christian Man
... breath of life and man became a living soul" (see Psalm 8 ... dust-born animal was changed
into a God-born soul. ... and ask the question, "Was that man created in the ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study iii the christian man.htm