What a Christian Believes About Anthropology

What a Christian Believes about Anthropology

“Anthropology in general refers to any study of the status, habits, customs, relationships and culture of humankind. In a more specific and theological sense, anthropology sets forth the scriptural teachings about humans as God’s creatures. Christian anthropology recognizes that humans are created in God’s image but that sin has in some way negatively affected that image” (Grenz, Guetzki, and Nordling 11). In other words, anthropology is the study of how God created us uniquely in his image, and how sin affected the image.

On the sixth day, God made male and female in his image, and he saw that it was very good (Genesis 1:27, 31). The Bible continues to tell the story of how God made us. He made Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. After that, God took one of Adam’s ribs and made Eve. The Adam and Eve walked with God. The Bible does not go into much detail to explain the creation process or any other part of creation. God wanted us to know how we are unique and wonderful and that we are supposed to have a relationship with Him. “We are the only earthly creatures whose essence is more that physical; man alone has a soul or spirit and is thus a combination of matter and spirit” (Cottrell 149). The fact that we have a soul is one way we are like God. No other creature has a soul or can tell right from wrong. Starting in Genesis, and throughout the whole Bible, God has called people His children. In the Old Testament, He told the Hebrews that they were His people, and in the New Testament, He call the Christians His children. God did not change his mind about who he would accept as the chosen, but when Jesus died on the cross, He opened the doors to everyone who accepts Christ to be God’s child. This label of being God’s child show that God wants to be in a relationship with His creation. Man was made uniquely in the image of God.

In the Garden of Eden, God only had on commandment, which was “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16). This was a very reasonable request that God made of Adam and Eve. God made all of creation for man and asked them to do one thing: to not eat from one certain tree. He gave them reign over all the other