Topical Bible: Man: Created by God

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Creation of Man

The creation of man is a foundational event described in the Book of Genesis, where God forms the first human beings, Adam and Eve. According to 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 and 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 unique status of humanity, being made in the image and likeness of God, which implies a special relationship with the Creator and a distinct role within creation.

The Image of God

The concept of being made in the "image of God" (imago Dei) is central to understanding the nature and purpose of humanity. This image endows humans with attributes that reflect God's character, such as rationality, morality, creativity, and the capacity for relationships. It also establishes human dignity and worth, setting mankind apart from the rest of creation. The image of God is not merely a physical resemblance but encompasses the spiritual and moral dimensions of human existence.

The Formation of Adam and Eve

Genesis 2 provides a more detailed account of the creation of the first man and woman. Genesis 2:7 states, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." This verse emphasizes the intimate and personal act of creation, with God directly forming Adam from the earth and imparting life through His breath. Eve's creation is described in Genesis 2:21-22 : "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh. And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him." This account underscores the complementary nature of man and woman, designed to be partners in fulfilling God's mandate.

Purpose and Dominion

God's purpose for humanity is further elucidated 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.'" This divine mandate, often referred to as the "Cultural Mandate," entrusts humans with stewardship over creation. It involves cultivating the earth, developing culture, and exercising responsible dominion, reflecting God's sovereign rule.

The Fall and Its Consequences

Despite the noble beginning, the narrative of the Fall in Genesis 3 marks a turning point in human history. Adam and Eve's disobedience to God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil resulted in sin entering the world. This act of rebellion brought about spiritual death, alienation from God, and a distortion of the image of God in humanity. Romans 5:12 explains, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned."

Redemption and Restoration

The New Testament reveals God's plan for redemption and the restoration of humanity through Jesus Christ. In Christ, the image of God is perfectly manifested, and through His sacrificial death and resurrection, believers are offered reconciliation with God. Colossians 3:10 speaks of the renewal of the image: "and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." This renewal process is part of the sanctification journey, where believers are progressively conformed to the likeness of Christ.

Eternal Destiny

The ultimate destiny of humanity is to dwell eternally with God, fully restored to the image of Christ. Revelation 21:3-4 provides a glimpse of this future hope: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.'" This promise assures believers of a future where the effects of the Fall are completely undone, and humanity's original purpose is fully realized in the presence of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 45:12
I have made the earth, and created man on it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek

444. anthropos -- a man, human, mankind
... are created in the image of God -- each vested with individual personhood and destiny
(cf. Gal 3:28). Accordingly, the Bible uses 444 () of a specific man, ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/444.htm - 8k

5363. philanthropia -- love for mankind, kindness
... who warmly loves others, treating them with the respect (benevolence) that befits
each one being created in the image of God. ... kindness, love towards man. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5363.htm - 7k

Library

Some Considerations in Reply Eulogistic of the Flesh it was ...
... Chapter V."Some Considerations in Reply Eulogistic of the Flesh It Was Created
by God. The Body of Man Was, in Fact, Previous to His Soul. ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter v some considerations in reply.htm

The True Doctrine. Creation Out of Nothing, of God's Lavish Bounty ...
... Section 3. The true doctrine. Creation out of nothing, of God's lavish bounty of
being. Man created above the rest, but incapable of independent perseverance. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 3 the true doctrine.htm

Of that Opinion of the Platonists, that the Angels were Themselves ...
... Book XII. Chapter 26."Of that Opinion of the Platonists, that the Angels Were
Themselves Indeed Created by God, But that Afterwards They Created Man's Body. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 26 of that opinion of.htm

For Though Man was Created in Grace, God, Foreseeing his ...
... Section 12. For though man was created in grace, God, foreseeing his forgetfulness,
provided also the works of creation to remind man of him. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 12 for though man.htm

State in which Man was Created. The Faculties of the Soul --The ...
... spirit. 3. A strong proof of this point may be gathered from its being
said, that man was created in the image of God. For though ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 state in which.htm

On the Creation of Man after the Image of God
... be properly said to have been created after the image of God who is pure spirit,
yet it is something divine, both from the circumstance that, if man had not ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxvi on the creation.htm

Of the State Wherein Man was Created, and How the Image of God is ...
... IMPROVED; OR, A PRACTICAL CATECHISM. Lecture XXIII. Of The State Wherein
Man Was Created, And How The Image Of God Is Defaced. Eccl. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxiii of the state.htm

What was the Providence of God Toward Man in the Estate in which ...
... Question 20: What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in
which he was created? Answer: The providence of God toward ...
/.../anonymous/the westminster larger catechism/question 20 0 what was the.htm

Not Enough, as the Marcionites Pretend, that the Supreme God ...
... Chapter XVII."Not Enough, as the Marcionites Pretend, that the Supreme
God Should Rescue Man; He Must Also Have Created Him. The ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvii not enough as the.htm

Another Cavil Met, IE , the Devil who Instigated Man to Sin ...
... even the tale [2840] of his transgressions, because he was himself as a spirit no
less (than man) created, with the faculty of free-will. For God would in ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter x another cavil met i e.htm