Geisler Vol 3 Chaps 1 and 2

8/14/2019 Geisler Vol 3 Chaps 1 and 2

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/geisler-vol-3-chaps-1-and-2 1/34



Systematic Theology II,Systematic Theology II,

Vol. 3Vol. 3Chapter OneChapter One

““ The Origin of HumanThe Origin of HumanBeings”Beings”pp. 17-45pp. 17-45



The Original Created The Original Created

ConditionsConditionsCreated Guiltless and InnocentCreated Guiltless and Innocent becamebecame SinfulSinful

According to Genesis 1-2, Adam and Eve werecreated with complete innocence. They were notonly guiltless of any sin, but also innocent of sin.

According to the NT, by disobedience Adam andEve became sinful (Rom. 5:12; 1 Tim. 2:14) andbrought condemnation on themselves and theirposterity (Rom. 5:18).




ConditionsConditionsCreated Virtuous and UprightCreated Virtuous and Upright

Not only were Adam and Eve innocent (without evil), theywere morally virtuous , created with moral perfection, orrighteous.

The Supernatural View: A view held by Catholics thatoriginal righteousness was not natural but supernatural.

The Natural View: A position promoted by Shedd, it heldthat man’s righteousness was that natural state for manand that sin introduced an unnatural state in the humancondition.




ConditionsConditionsA State of Moral ResponsibilityA State of Moral Responsibility

Adam was free in that his actions were self-determined; God specifically said, “You arefree” (Gen. 2:16). When Adam chose todisobey, God blamed Adam, asking, “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded youthat you should not eat?” (3:11, AMP). God’swords point to a self-determined act.



Theological Basis for the Theological Basis for theOriginal State of InnocenceOriginal State of Innocenceand Perfectionand Perfection1. God is an absolute perfect Being.2. An absolutely perfect Being cannot

produce an imperfect creation.3. Therefore, the original creation God

made was perfect.



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoul

1. The Preexistence View2. The Created View3. The Traducian View



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoul The Preexistence View The Preexistence View Two Forms of the Preexistence View1. The Uncreated-Preexistence View2. The Created-Preexistence View

These views contradict the clearteaching of Scripture about thecreation of human beings.



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoul The Creation View The Creation View The essence is that God directly

creates a new individual soul foreveryone born into this world.

The body is generated by his orher parents through a naturalprocess, the soul is supernaturallycreated by God.



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoulCreation of the SoulCreation of the Soul atat ConceptionConception

There are various view as to the exactmoment of the creation of the soul.

Most evangelicals who hold the creationistview maintain that the creation of the

souls by God occurs at the moment of conception.



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoulCreation of the SoulCreation of the Soul atat ImplantationImplantationSome believe that the soul is created at the

moment the fertilized egg implants intothe uterus. The argument is that untilimplantation the egg can still divide intoidentical twins, if the soul is created atconception, then two people would share

the same soul.Geisler dismisses this argument (p. 29).



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoulCreation of the SoulCreation of the Soul afterafter ImplantationImplantation

Thomas Aquinas placed the creation of the

human soul well after conception—40 daysafter for boys, and 90 days after for girls.

However, with new scientific studies, thisargument has been abandoned.





Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoulCreation of the SoulCreation of the Soul atat BirthBirthSome Christians argue that the soul is

created at birth. Their two main points:1. Human life is biblically designated from

the point of birth (Gen. 5:1ff.)

2. Adam was not human until be began tobreathe (Gen. 2:7)



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoulCreation of the SoulCreation of the Soul atat Birth --Birth -- Geisler refutes this view on these points:

1. Adam wasn’t conceived and born like other humans; he was directly created.

2. His first breath is no more an evidence of being human, than his being created

adult is a sign of being human.3. Breath, in the Heb. ruach , denotes the origin of “life.” It indicates when God

have life to Adam, not simply because Adam began breathing.

4. Other animals breathe, but they aren’t humans—breath does not determine“humaness.”

5. Some people stop breathing, but then are revived and sustained with aid of a

machine.6. One does not stop being human when they stop breathing. God’s Word

teaches that human being continue to exist after they stop breathing (Phil.1:23; 2 Cor. 5:5-6; Rev. 6:9).

7. The Scriptures speak of human life in the womb long before breathing begins,namely, from the point of conception (Ps. 51:5; Matt. 1:20).



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoul The Traducian View The Traducian View

The word “traducian” come from the Latin tradux,

meaning “branch of a vine.” As applied to thesoul, it means that each new human being is abranch off of his or her parents; that is to say, inthe traducian model both soul and body aregenerated by father and mother. Geisler, p.31



Three Views: Three Views: The Origin of the Human The Origin of the HumanSoulSoul The Traducian View: Arguments in Favor of The Traducian View: Arguments in Favor of

1. Creation was completed on the sixth day (Gen.

2:2; Deut. 4:32; Matt. 13:35).2. Science shows that human life begins at

conception, humans have souls.

3. This view accounts for original sin.

Geisler, p. 31





Systematic Theology II,Systematic Theology II,

Vol. 3Vol. 3Chapter TwoChapter Two

““ The Nature of Human The Nature of HumanBeings”Beings”pp. 46-79pp. 46-79



ca erms or eca erms or eImmaterial Dimension of Immaterial Dimension of

Human BeingsHuman BeingsSoulSoul

Hebrew,Hebrew,

nephesh:nephesh:

Greek,Greek,

psuche psuche

Basically “soul” means “life.” Itrefers to the principle of life in a

human being, or to that whichanimates the body.




Human BeingsHuman BeingsSpiritSpiritHebrew,Hebrew, ruach:ruach: Greek,Greek, pneuma pneumaAlmost always refers to the

immaterial dimension of a humanbeing. It is often usedinterchangeably with the word soul .Spirit is immaterial (Lk. 24:38-39;

Jn. 4:24).




Human BeingsHuman BeingsHeartHeartHebrew,Hebrew, leb:leb: Greek,Greek, kardiakardia

The heart (sometimes used to mean“mind”) is the instrument with whichwe are to worship God (Deut. 6:5).

It is also the seat of evil (Matt.12:34). For better of worse, it theheart reflects the whole inner being.





ca erms or eca erms or eMaterial Dimension of Material Dimension of

Human BeingsHuman BeingsBodyBody

Hebrew,Hebrew,

basar:basar:

Greek,Greek,

somasoma

Is normally used of the outer(material) aspect of human

nature (Matt. 10:28; James 2:26)




Human BeingsHuman BeingsFleshFlesh

Hebrew,Hebrew,

basar:basar:

Greek,Greek,

sarx sarx

Use of both the moral andresurrected body.




Human BeingsHuman BeingsEarthen Vessel (2 Cor. 4:7)Earthen Vessel (2 Cor. 4:7)Used as an illustration of the

human body, since it is an outerstructure containing something

else (a soul) inside.




Human BeingsHuman BeingsEarthly Tent (2 Cor. 5:1; John 1:14)Earthly Tent (2 Cor. 5:1; John 1:14)A figure of speech used to

illustrate the mortal body as amaterial shell that in this world

houses the presence of theimmaterial soul.




Human BeingsHuman BeingsOutward Man (2 Cor. 4:16, KJV)Outward Man (2 Cor. 4:16, KJV)If the soul is the “inner man” then

the body is the “outer man.” Theoutward person is visible,

material, and tangible. It issubject to decay and destructionsince it can “perish.”



e e a ons pe e a ons pBetweenBetween

Soul and BodySoul and BodyAnthropological MaterialismAnthropological MaterialismAffirms the material body, but denies

the existence of an immaterial soul.Only the body exists.Anthropological EpiphenomenalismAnthropological Epiphenomenalism

The soul is only a silhouette of thebody; the body is the to the soulwhat a tree is to it’s shadow. Thesoul is reducible to the body.




Soul and BodySoul and BodyAnthropological IdealismAnthropological IdealismA non-theistic view that materialism is idealism.

Humans have a soul, but the body is merely anillusion that exists only in the mind.

Anthropological Monism (Double-Aspect View)Anthropological Monism (Double-Aspect View)Soul and body are two sides (inner and outer) of

the same thing. Body and soul are of onesubstance, two aspects of the same entity.




Soul and BodySoul and BodyAnthropological Dualism/DichotomyAnthropological Dualism/DichotomySoul and body are separate and parallel entities;

like railroad tracks, they run side by side, but

never intersect. However, this lack of contact isproblematic in that they do appear to intersect.Anthropological InteractionismAnthropological InteractionismBody and soul are two different substances: The

intellectual soul (mind) is a thinking, non-extended entity, and the physical body is a non-thinking, spatially extended entity.




Soul and BodySoul and BodyAnthropological Pre-Established HarmonyAnthropological Pre-Established HarmonyA preestablished harmony exists between soul and

body. Though not directly aware of each other, theyare synchronized by God and thus connected.

Anthropological HylomorphismAnthropological HylomorphismFrom two Greek words, the theory proposes that there

is form/matter unity between the soul and the body, just as there is unity between shape and form of a

statue and the rock out of which it is made. Assertsthat the soul (mind) is to the body (matter) what ideasare to words: they form a unity, inner and outerdimensions fo their holistic oneness.



Dichotomists &Dichotomists &

TrichotomistsTrichotomistsDichotomistsDichotomistsArgue that since soul and spirit are used

interchangeably in many passages of Scripture, a

human being has only two parts (body andsoul/spirit). Verses where the two are usedinterchangeably include Luke 1:46-47.

Trichotomists TrichotomistsHold that a human being is tripartate (“having

three parts”), namely, body, soul and spirit. Thefollowing passages appear to support thetrichotomists’ view: Heb.4:12; 1 Thess. 5:23;Rom. 8:16; 1 Cor. 15:44; Mark 10:5; 1 Cor. 6:19).



Documents

Geisler Vol 3 Chaps 1 and 2