Who is Man?

What is man?¹

Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.

What was the image of God?²

The image of God was this:

• Adam and Eve truly knew God as He wishes to be known and were perfectly happy in Him (Colossians 3:10).
• They were righteous and holy, doing God’s will (Ephesians 4:24).

Is this likeness in the body or in the soul?³

This likeness is chiefly in the soul.

How is the soul like to God?⁴

The soul is like God because it is a spirit that will never die, and has understanding and free will.

Why did God make you?⁵

God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

Of which must we take more care, our soul or our body?⁶

We must take more care of our soul than of our body.

Why must we take more care of our soul than of our body?⁷

We must take more care of our soul than of our body, because in losing our soul we lose God and everlasting happiness.

What must we do to save our souls?⁸

To save our souls we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our heart.

What is the chief end of man?⁹

Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever (1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 73:25-26).

What reason have you for saying so?¹⁰

Because he created us and placed us in this world to be glorified in us. And it is indeed right that our life, of which himself is the beginning, should be devoted to his glory.

Why do you hold that to be the highest good?¹¹

Because without it our condition is worse than that of the brutes.

What is the true and right knowledge of God?¹²

When he is so known that due honour is paid to him.

What is the method, of honouring him duly?¹³

To place our whole confidence in him; to study to serve him during our whole life by obeying his will; to call upon him in all our necessities, seeking salvation and every good thing that can be desired in him; lastly, to acknowledge him both with heart and lips, as the sole Author of all blessings.

How did God first create life?¹⁴

God created all living things, both plant and animal, by His Word alone, from nothing. He created humanity specially, from dust, then gave us His own breath as Life (Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:14).

How did God create man?¹⁵

After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female; formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground, and the woman of the rib of the man, endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls; made them after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and dominion over the creatures; yet subject to fall.

What are God’s works of providence?¹⁶

God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions (Nehemiah 9:6; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 103:19; Matthew 10:29-30).

What special act of providence did God exercise towards man, in the estate wherein he was created?¹⁷

When God had created man, He entered into a covenant of works with him, upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death (Genesis 2:16-17; Galatians 3:12; Romans 5:12).

Footnotes

Series Navigation

<< What are Angels?What is Sin? >>

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1. Baltimore Larger Catechism (1885), Question 3.
2. Luther’s Small Catechism (1529), Question 106.
3. Baltimore Larger Catechism (1885), Question 4.
4. Baltimore Larger Catechism (1885), Question 5.
5. Baltimore Larger Catechism (1885), Question 6.
6. Baltimore Larger Catechism (1885), Question 7.
7. Baltimore Larger Catechism (1885), Question 8.
8. Baltimore Larger Catechism (1885), Question 9.
9. Baptist Catechism (1677), Question 2.
10. Geneva Catachism (1545), Question 2.
11. Geneva Catachism (1545), Question 4.
12. Geneva Catachism (1545), Question 6.
13. Geneva Catachism (1545), Question 7.
14. Luther’s Small Catechism (1529), Question 103.
15. Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Question 17.
16. Baptist Catechism (1677), Question 15.
17. Baptist Catechism (1677), Question 16.