What is the origin of man?

Answer

The origin of humanity can be traced back to the creation story in the book of Genesis. Initially, after God shaped the world and brought into being all other living beings, God created humanity: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created humanity in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26-27).

The Bible unequivocally affirms that humanity is the result of a direct and extraordinary creative act of God: “God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth” (Isaiah 42:5;NLT;see also Job 33:4).

Scripture does not entertain any alternative source of origin for humanity. The narrative in Genesis does not delve into specifics regarding the creation of humanity, but the Bible is not focused on providing a scientific rationale for human origins. The clear message of Scripture is that God breathed life into humanity: “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” «And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. », (Genesis 2:7).

Genesis explains that God shaped the physical body of humanity from existing material—“the dust of the ground.” However, the soul of humanity was a completely new creation by God—“The breath of life.” Together, these two natures of body and soul formed man—“a living being” (see also Ecclesiastes 12:7; Matthew 10:28; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Hebrews 12:9).

When God created man, He gave him a supreme place in the world. Not only were human beings God’s final work in the process of creation, but they also provided fulfillment and meaning to the rest of God’s handiwork. God made human beings in His own image «And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. », (Genesis 1:26). They were to multiply and fill the earth, cultivate and subdue it, and rule over all the other creatures (Genesis 1:28-30). In this place of earthly dominion, man was created to magnify and give glory to the Creator and Lord of all the universe (Psalm 8:4-9).

Many scientists support the theory of naturalistic evolution as the origin of man. While various evolutionists define the theory differently, it can be summarized as the belief that man ascended from lower animals through an unguided, chance process of development. Not only is this theory contrary to the teaching of the Word of God, but it also holds no firm footing in verifiable facts.

Although evolutionary theory is often presented as established dogma, it is, in fact, nothing but a hypothesis. Many leading evolutionists now admit that the origin of species is a complete mystery to them. Dr. D. H. Scott, in a presidential address to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, stated that the origin of species remains an unsolved problem.Advancement of Science, stated, “All is again in the melting-pot. . . . Is evolution, then, not a scientifically established fact? No, it is not. . . . It is an act of faith—because there is no alternative.” Scientist Ambrose Fleming said, “All that science can say at present in the light of definitely ascertained and limited human knowledge is that it does not know, and has no certain proof how, where, and when man was originated. If any true knowledge of it is to come to us, it must come from some source other than present modern anthropology” (Berkhof, L., Systematic Theology, p. 187. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1938).

As Christians, we accept on faith the testimony of the Bible—that God created Adam and Eve as the first man and woman, and from them descended the whole human race: “From one man [God] has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live” «and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; », (Acts 17:26, CSB).

The organic unity of the human race in its origin and subsequent fall also relates to Jesus Christ’s provision of salvation for humankind: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned . . . through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:12,19;see also 1 Corinthians 15:21).