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Anthropology
Chafer
Anthropology is the science that deals with the origins, physical and
cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs
and beliefs of humankind. It is also a major division of
Systematic Theology and Lewis Sperry Chafer offers a condensed view of
anthropology in his volumes on Systematic Theology:
- As a modern science in secular education, Anthropology deals only
with man's development and accomplishments, without regard to Biblical
revelation. It is taught only from an evolutionary point of
view, including nothing relative to spiritual values or man's
destiny. Biblical Anthropology offers a much wider view, and
it contemplates important considerations.
- From a Biblical perspective, the origin of man is accepted as
declared in Genesis and as incorporated in all subsequent Scriptures
that man is a direct creation of God. Denial of the Genesis
account is a denial of part of God's revelation. Chafer
further believed that such denial follows with a fostering and
sustaining of unbelief respecting every word that God has
spoken.
- Man was made in the image and likeness of God, and this is the
unqualified declaration of the Bible. So, we can learn
something about God's character by studying His creation, apart from
the portion of man which was related his fall into sin. The comparisons
used must be restricted to spiritual characteristics--not physical or
divine comparisons.
- The material part of man was a direct creation from existing
substances.
- The immaterial part of man was breathed into him as the very breath
of God, and this is how man became a living soul.
- The fall of man was accomplished by the design and influence of
Satan. The sin which caused the fall of man was suggested by
Satan, and it was the identical form of sin which Satan himself had
followed when he rebelled against God. Satan fell from his
high place in creation, acting independently of God through
disobedience, repudiating all divine right and authority over himself
(Gen. 3:5, Isaiah 14:12-14.
- The fall and its penalty are imputed to the whole human race. The
penalty is spiritual death, and it is transmitted mediately from parent
to child, while the penalty of physical death is imputed immediately
from Adam to each individual member of his race. As a result,
each member of the race was seminally in Adam when the first man
sinned, and therefore each member shared in that sin. This
imputation of Adam's sin to his race is a real imputation, not a
judicial one. This divine principle is clearly indicated in
Hebrews 7:9-10. As a priest, Levi was supported by the tithes
of the Jewish people. Yet, when Abraham paid tithes to
Melchizedek, Levi was also paying these tithes, because he was a
great-grandson in the loins of father Abraham.
- God has moved in the direction of a cure for man's position which he
lost in his fall into sin. This cure may be received on
definite terms. Each of us disobeyed God and sinned in the
beginning, while we were still in Adams loins, and now we are called
upon to obey the gospel of God's grace. In the present age of grace,
the salvation which God offers ensures eternal fellowship with Him in
the highest glory, and it cannot be compared to the position of
innocence from which Adam fell.
Owen Weber 2012 |
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