The Scripture teaches that all of mankind stems from the one man Adam who was created directly by God, Eve being taken directly from Adam by God, the rest of Adam’s race being the offspring of these two.[1] Man was created in the image and likeness of God; was on an order below the angels and above the animal creation; and was uncondemned.[2] Unlike the triune God, man is a unity; that is, each man is one person with one (human) nature.[3] The essence of man’s nature is composed of physical and spiritual material.[4] The nature of man includes a number of components (like body, soul, mind, and spirit) and possesses abilities similar to those of God (e.g., man can love, exercise power, know, and make choices).[5] But man’s abilities are limited because of his limited nature.[6] In addition, man has the potential for death, both physical and spiritual (since the fall every member of Adam’s race has been born spiritually dead).[7]

The activities of man are related to God, to the creation, and to his fellow man. As God’s creation and under his authority, man is to render to God that which is due him.[8] Man is to subdue the earth and rule over it.[9] On the human level, God has instituted marriage, between one man and one woman, and the family and has made man a social creature.[10] Furthermore, God has instituted human government.[11]

[1]	Gen 2:7; 2:21; 5:3; Rom 5:12; Heb 7:9,10
[2]	Gen 1:26,27; 5:1; Psm 8:5; Gen 1:26,28; 2:17
[3]	Gen 1:27; 2:7,21,22
[4]	Gen 2:7; Luke 1:46,27
[5]	1Th 5:23; Matt 5:46; 2Cor 1:4; 1Th 1:5
[6]	Rom 11:33; Psm 139:6
[7]	John 11:21; Eph 2:1,5
[8]	Matt 22:20,21; Rom 9:20,21; Ecc 12:13
[9]	Gen 1:26,28
[10]	Gen 2:23-25; 1:26-28
[11]	Gen 9:5,6; Rom 13:1-5

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