Concise Guide: What Does It Mean To Be Human, According To The Bible?

What does it mean to be human? The effort to understand this question, that is, the study of what it means to be human, is the study of Anthropology. The wor...

What does it mean to be human? The effort to understand this question, that is, the study of what it means to be human, is the study of Anthropology. The word comes from two Greek words, anthropos, meaning "man," and logos, meaning "word."

So, what does the Bible say about what it means to be human?

Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve addressed this question on the podcast. My brother Parker and I tackled something similar in Episode 38, back in October of last year, called, “What Is The Imago Dei? With the Sons of Thunder.”

But in this episode I want to do something a little different. See the Bible says in Ephesians 4 that the role of ministry leaders (prophets, apostles, evangelists, and pastor-teachers) is to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

So rather than me simply tell you what the Bible says, I’m going to show you where to find the answer for yourself in Scripture, so you can have the tools you need to build out and reinforce your biblical worldview.

I love teaching, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong (at all) with someone simply teaching what the Bible says. I just want to try something different, and maybe it will bear fruit. I don’t know. Maybe it will be effective.

So here we go.

We start this episode by asking why we need to ask this question at all. That is, why do we need a definition of man at all? After all, we are human beings. Shouldn’t it be obvious to us what we are? The fact is, the answer to “What is Man?” is not obvious.

Or at the very least, there is no shared definition of humanity across all worldviews. Therefore, if we want our thinking to be shaped by the Bible, we must ask this question and see how the Bible answers it. (It is also important to note here that we are using the term “man” in an inclusive way to refer not just to adult males but to male and female human persons of all ages.

This usage is biblical and theologically significant in ways which we won’t expound on here, but which will perhaps become clear as we go on). Before we go any further, write your own answer to the question in the space below. What is man? Man is…

We mentioned above that there is no unified way that all worldviews answer the question of mankind or human nature. Here are a few samples of the various answers out there:

Materialism: Man is a complex machine or evolved animal, the product of an unguided process of evolution by natural selection over millions of years.
Mormonism: Man is a spirit child of Elohim, the Heavenly Father, who himself is an exalted or deified man. As man is, God once was. As God now is, man may become.
Hinduism & New Age: In Hinduism, “Atman” (man) is “Brahman” (ultimate reality or 11 Cf. the “Theory Comparison Chart (Santrock Chapter 2)” Christinao.wordpress.com, accessed on June 18, 2019. think THE BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW 19 the cosmic soul). Man is one with the universe, though he may not be aware of this. New Age thought is similar, in that the self is god. 12
Postmodernism & Intersectionality: Man’s nature is debated, but generally seen as being without any objective definition or essential nature (a Postmodernist would likely object to my use of “man” to describe humanity!). Neil Shenvi says, “As a non-theistic worldview, critical theory believes that our identity is not primarily found in our vertical relationship to God but in our horizontal relationships to other people and other groups.” On this view, individuals define themselves and relate to one another and society according to an intersecting network of sub-groups, each with various levels of “privilege” and “oppression.”

Then there is the question of the moral status of human nature: is man basically good, basically bad, more good than bad, more bad than good, or fundamentally broken? There are diverse answers to this question as well. So what does the Bible teach? What does man’s Creator have to say about his creation?

Relevant questions with verses:

What makes us unique?
- Gen. 1:27
Why are we gendered?
- Gen. 2:18
- Gen. 5:2
What is our role in relation to the rest of creation?
- Gen. 1:26
Do human beings have a unique dignity and value?
- Genesis 9:6
- James 3:9-10
When do we gain dignity and the right to life?
- Psalm 139:13
- Ex. 21:22-25
- Jer. 1:5
- Luke 1:41
Does the human race have a single origin or multiple origin points?
- Gen. 2:7, 21-22
- Gen. 3:20
- Acts 17:26
Where do we stand in relation to our Creator?
- Matthew 4:4
What is our moral status when we enter the world (are we tabula rasa)?
- Psalm 51:5
- Eph. 2:3
What kind of behavior is typical of a human being in its natural state? (1 Cor. 3:3)
What is the optimal lifestyle and outcome for a human being reaching his or her fullest potential?
- Romans 2:7
What is the destiny of a person who is left in his or her natural state?
- Matthew 10:28
- Revelation 21:8
Is it possible to be brought to a higher state of being than our natural state, and reconciled to our Creator?
- John 1:12
- John 3:7
Who is our best representative of the human race?
- Phil. 2:6
- Hebrews 4:15

Objection - Who is God to tell me what to do?

He is your maker. He’s the potter; you’re the clay.
This means he has authority over you. —Romans 9.

What should therefore be our response?

Repentance—confess to God you are a sinner and have not lived up to his glorious standard.
Acceptance—believe in Jesus Christ; receive him as Lord and Savior. Believe he died for your sins and rose again.
Obedience—commit yourself to him as your Lord.

Subscribe to the Think Update for tips and tools to help you explain, share and defend your faith: https://thethink.institute/articles/update

Support the Settecase Family & Think Institute: https://give.cru.org/1018841

Book Joel to speak: https://thethink.institute/contact

Search the website: https://thethink.institute/search

Listen to the Think Podcast: