The Doctrine of Man and His World

7/29/2019 The Doctrine of Man and His World

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NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY

BTH 532

Missio University

Training Leaders to Transform Nations

DOCTRINE OF MAN

Dr. J. Lee SimmonsDeanPowerPoint #3

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Man and His World: OT

Background

Man possesses body and soul

Man is part of a family

Universal sinfulness of manMost words for sin in OT refer to sin

against God.

God judges man in regard to his sin.

Sacrificial system dealt with sin but did not

remove mans awareness of guilt.

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Man and His World: Judaism

Development of Judaism in the

Intertestamental Period

Sin is an evil tendency.

yeserhara.

If man so wills, he can keep the

commandments.God is the creator of this evil

tendency in man.

The law delivers from this evil

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Man and His World: Hellenism

Greek view of Man

DualismMind/Soul good

Body

evil a prison houseTwo views of the body

Asceticism deprive the body

Hedonism

delight the bodyThe Greek world could not conceive

of a bodily resurrection and had no

word for it.

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The World in the NT

World

kosmos

the world ofmanNot the physical planet

Under evil domination world controlled

by Satan Matthew 4:8; 1 John 5:19;

Colossians 1:13.

Example: Temptation of Christ

Much of Jesus ministry involved casting

out of demons.

An elic world ministerin s irits -Heb

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The World in the NT

World

kosmos

the world ofman

The unseen world of angels anddemons is a prominent NT truth.

The believer with the power of

God and the ministry of angels isin warfare against Satan and his

demonic legions.

Ephesians

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The World in the NT

Both John and Paul more fullydevelop the concept ofkosmos. In

John

s writings:Jesus came into the world. John 11:27

The world did not recognize Christ. John

1:10The world hated Christ. John 7:7

Gods great love for the world. John 3:16

Jesus disciples were not of this world.

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The World in the NT

Both John and Paul more fully developthe concept ofkosmos. In Johns

writings:Christians are not to love the world.

1 John 2:15-17

The world hates Christians.

John 15:18-19, John 17:14

The world is under the power of the evil one.

1 John 5:19

Faith is the victory through which believers -

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The World in the NT

Both John and Paul more fully developthe concept ofkosmos. In Pauls

writings:The whole world is accountable before God.

Romans 3:19

The world has fallen under the judgment of God.

John 3:18

The worlds wisdom and Gods wisdom are in

contrast. 1 Corinthians 1:19-21; James 3:14-17

Unbelievers follow the ways of the world and are

led by Satan.

Ephesians 2:2

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Man in Himself in the NT

The Infinite Value of Man to GodGod knows the minutest details about us.

Matthew 10:30

This does not promote the idea of the

Fatherhood of God and the

Brotherhood of Men philosophy apart

from faith and repentance.Repentance and faith brings us into His

family.

Jesus is concerned about what man is, not

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Jesus View of the FleshNo hint of Gnostic dualism in which only

the physical is evil.

There is an absence of asceticism in

Jesus. Matthew 11:18-19

Defilement of man comes from the inside

not the outside.

Mark 7:14-23

If fed with the world, the flesh can

dominate over the spirit. Matthew 26:41

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Jesus View About Man in SocietyMan was never intended to be an

individualist or self-sufficient.

Jesus was deeply concerned about those

who were socially deprived, the poor, and

needy, the deaf, blind and lame.

Jesus was a friend of sinners and spenttime with societal outcasts.

The Sermon on the Mount contains much

teaching about mans responsibility to his

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The Personal Responsibility WhichFalls on ManMan is expected to obey God. Luke 17:9-

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Man is completely accountable to God.

Luke 19:11-15

Man is completely dependent on God.

Matthew 6:11

Total commitment to God is required.

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The Relation of Men and WomenJudaism was male-dominated and gave

little respect to women.

In Judaism women could not attend

Synagogue religious education classes or

worship with men equally.

To the Jewish man, females were inferiorto men

In contrast, Jesus and the evangelists

recognized the rights of women as much

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The Relation of Men and WomenThe virgin birth places Mary in the highest

honor.

All the gospels stress the importance of

women in the Passion and Resurrection

narratives.

No distinction is made in the healing ministryof Jesus toward men or women.

Jesus allowed a women to anoint His feet

and praised her for it.

Luke 7:36-38, 44-47

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The Relation of Men and WomenJesus gave equal status to men and women

in divorce. Mark 10:10-12

Jesus spoke of sons and daughters and

mothers and fathers as equals. Matthew

12:50

It was women who stayed at the cross. Luke 23:49

Women were the first to proclaim the

Resurrection.

Luke 24:1-10

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Jesus Approach to ChildrenIn the Ancient World, unwanted children

were abandoned and exposed to theelements to die.

Jesus welcomed children and criticized His

disciples for keeping them away. Matthew 19:13-15

He used a child as an example of humility.

Matthew 18:1-5

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Jesus Approach to ChildrenJesus pronounced strong judgment on

anyone who caused a little one to sin.

Matthew 18:6

He spoke of Gods special protection for

children.

Matthew 18:10, 14It was children who praised His entry into

Jerusalem. Matthew 21:15-16

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Pauline View of ManOf all the NT writers, Paul gives the fullest

expression of the doctrine of man.

Since his letters were occasional, Paul

does not give a comprehensive teaching in

any one letter, and sometimes the terms he

uses to describe man are used in variousways.

The words he most uses to describe the

various aspects of man are: soul, spirit,

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Pauline Anthropological Terms: SoulLeast important of Pauls terms, occurs 13x

It mainly indicates a mans life.

Romans 11:3; Philippians 2:30

It can mean self as in 1 Thessalonians 2:8,

and individuals in Romans 13:1The use of soul,psyche, in 1 Thessalonians

5:23 seems to indicate that man is a tripartite,

although many disagree.

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Pauline Anthropological Terms:

Spirit

The Greek word for spirit ispneumaand isoften used in relationship to the Holy Spirit.

Pneumais also used in the description of

man who is a believer. The believer hasthe Holy Pneuma which is a direct contrast

with flesh sarx.Romans 8:9

We become partakers of the Spirit at

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Pauline Anthropological Terms: Heart OurKardiaWithout Christ:

Sin can darken our heart. Romans 1:21

The heart is corrupted.

Romans 1:24

Heart is stubborn and unrepentant. Romans 2:5

OurKardiaWith Christ

Man believes with the heart.

Romans 10:10

God shines light into our hearts. 2 Corinthians

4:6

Christ dwells in our hearts.

Ephesians 3:17

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Mind

In great contrast to Greek thinking wherenouscan be elevated above the rest of

man.

Nous is neither good or bad

its moralstanding is determined by what is

influencing it: flesh or spirit.

When the mind does not acknowledge

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Mind

The mind of unbelievers can beblinded by Satan. 2 Corinthians 4:4

Before salvation, man was an enemy

of God in his mind because of his evilbehavior. Colossians 1:21

The mind of believers needs to be

renewed.

Romans 12:2

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Pauline Anthropological Terms:ConscienceSyneidesis knowledge of an act with

reflexive judgment on it.

The conscience shows that man is aware that

he is a rational being.

All people have the capacity to know right and

wrong. Romans 2:15

God judges the conscience. 1 Corinthians

4:4

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Flesh

Sarxis used by Paul in a number of ways.Understanding Pauls use ofsarxis vital to

understanding his concept of man.

Some translations weaken the mean ofsarxbecause of modern mans concept of

the word flesh, i.e. NIV sinful nature

Galatians 5:16-21

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Flesh

Describes the natural man

Galatians1:16

The flesh is in conflict with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:17

The flesh has evil fruit. Galatians 5:19-

21

Before becoming a Christian, the flesh

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Body

Unlike sarx, the body, soma, can betransformed.

We are not to sin against our body.

1 Corinthians 6:18

Our body is to be a pure and holy temple of

the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19

We are to glorify God with our bodies.

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Body

Our body will be resurrected and glorified. Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:52-

53

We are to present and dedicate our bodiesto God for His purposes. Romans 12:1-2

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Man in Relation to God in the NT

Jesus Estimate of Mans SinSin is universal.

Sin is internal.Sin is enslavement.

Sin is rebellion

Sin merits condemnation.Sin is alienation from God.

Sin is unbelief.

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Pauline Concept of SinSin is debt.

Sin is deviation.Sin is lawlessness.

Sin is slavery.

Sin is falsehood.Sin merits punishment.

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Summary of Sin in the NTSin is universal in all men. Romans 3:23

Sin is internal often with externalexpression.

Sin brings divine punishment.

Sins cure is only found in forgiveness

through repentance of sin and faith in

Jesus Christ.

Sinners need a Savior.

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Sinners Need a Savior

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious

thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no

more

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The Doctrine of Man and His World