Anthropology: Man’s Uniqueness; Material and Immaterial Nature

Dr. Andy WoodsDr. Andy Woods

Man and the Animals

Similarities to the animalsSimilarities to the animals NepheshNephesh (Gen 1:20-21, 24, 30) (Gen 1:20-21, 24, 30) PsuchPsuche (Rev 8:9; 16:3)e (Rev 8:9; 16:3) Breath of life (Gen 6:17; 7:15, 22)Breath of life (Gen 6:17; 7:15, 22)

Dissimilarities to the animalsDissimilarities to the animals Object of God’s life-giving breath (Gen 2:7)Object of God’s life-giving breath (Gen 2:7) Image bearer of God (Gen 1:26; 5:1)Image bearer of God (Gen 1:26; 5:1)

Man in God’s Image

Male and female are both image bearers Male and female are both image bearers (Gen 1:26-27)(Gen 1:26-27)

Not deityNot deity Effaced but not erased due to the fall (Gen Effaced but not erased due to the fall (Gen

9:6; Jas 3:9; 1 Cor 11:7)9:6; Jas 3:9; 1 Cor 11:7) Sharers of God’s personal imageSharers of God’s personal image Potential sharers of God’s moral image Potential sharers of God’s moral image

(Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10)(Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10)

Not Deity

GodGod ManManOmniscient (Matt 11:21)Omniscient (Matt 11:21) Not omniscient (Job 38:4)Not omniscient (Job 38:4)

Omnipotent (Rev 19:6)Omnipotent (Rev 19:6) Not omnipotent (Heb 4:15)Not omnipotent (Heb 4:15)

Omnipresent (Ps 139:7-12)Omnipresent (Ps 139:7-12) Not Omnipresent (John 1:50)Not Omnipresent (John 1:50)

Holy (1 John 1:5)Holy (1 John 1:5) Sinful (Isa 64:6)Sinful (Isa 64:6)

Eternal (Ps 90:2)Eternal (Ps 90:2) Created (Gen 1:1, 21-27)Created (Gen 1:1, 21-27)

Truth (John 14:6)Truth (John 14:6) Deceitful (Jer 17:9)Deceitful (Jer 17:9)

Just (Acts 17:31)Just (Acts 17:31) Lawless (1 John 3:4)Lawless (1 John 3:4)

Loving (1 John 4:8)Loving (1 John 4:8) Vices (1 Cor 3:3)Vices (1 Cor 3:3)

Rhodes, Christianity According to the Bible, 93-94

God’s Personal Image

SocialSocial Personhood (intellect, emotion, will)Personhood (intellect, emotion, will) SpiritualSpiritual ImmortalityImmortality DominionDominion RationalityRationality

God’s Moral Image (Eph 4:23-4; Col 3:10)

RighteousnessRighteousness

HolinessHoliness

TruthTruth

Spiritual knowledgeSpiritual knowledge

Man’s Other Unique Features

Little lower than the angels (Ps 8:4-6)Little lower than the angels (Ps 8:4-6)

Wonderfully complex (Ps 139:14)Wonderfully complex (Ps 139:14)

Descended from one man (Acts 17:26)Descended from one man (Acts 17:26) No pre-Adamic race (Rom 5:12; 8:20-22)No pre-Adamic race (Rom 5:12; 8:20-22) No basis for racism (Gen 1:27-28)No basis for racism (Gen 1:27-28)

Man’s Material Nature

No dualism (Gen 1:31)No dualism (Gen 1:31)

Physical body not inherently evil (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Physical body not inherently evil (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 6:19-20)Cor 6:19-20)

Designations for the bodyDesignations for the body

Future of the bodyFuture of the body

Designations for the Body

Body (Matt 6:22)Body (Matt 6:22) Flesh (Gal 2:20; 1 Pet 1:24)Flesh (Gal 2:20; 1 Pet 1:24) Tent (2 Pet 1:14)Tent (2 Pet 1:14) Body of humiliation (Philip 3:21)Body of humiliation (Philip 3:21) Earthen vessel (2 Cor 4:7)Earthen vessel (2 Cor 4:7)

God’s Resurrection Program

2 GENERAL RESURRECTIONS

BELIEVERS UNBELIEVERS

First Fruits

Christ

General Harvest

Rapture

Gleanings

Beginning of Millennium

After Millennium

Order or Order or TagmaTagma (1 Cor 15:23) (1 Cor 15:23)

GeneralGeneral: Christ’s resurrection : Christ’s resurrection (1 Cor 15:23)(1 Cor 15:23)

OfficerOfficer: Rapture (1 Thess : Rapture (1 Thess 4:13-18)4:13-18)

SoldiersSoldiers: OT saints & : OT saints & Tribulation martyrs (Rev Tribulation martyrs (Rev 20:4)20:4)

CaptivesCaptives: Unsaved of all ages : Unsaved of all ages (Rev 20:5)(Rev 20:5)

Man’s Immaterial Nature

TrichotomyTrichotomy PartsParts

BodyBodySoulSoulSpiritSpirit

Biblical supportBiblical support1 Thess 5:231 Thess 5:23Heb 4:12Heb 4:12

Man’s Immaterial Nature DichotomyDichotomy

PartsParts BodyBody Soul/Spirit (synonymous)Soul/Spirit (synonymous)

Biblical supportBiblical support Soul/spirit used interchangeably-John 12:27; 13:21Soul/spirit used interchangeably-John 12:27; 13:21 Whole man referred to as body/soul or body/spirit-Whole man referred to as body/soul or body/spirit-

Matt 10:28; 1 Cor 5:3Matt 10:28; 1 Cor 5:3 Man relates to God via the soul-Luke 1:46Man relates to God via the soul-Luke 1:46 Other parts?-Mark 12:30Other parts?-Mark 12:30 Differing parts of the materialDiffering parts of the material