Humanity
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Topical Encyclopedia
Creation and Nature of Humanity

Humanity, according to the Bible, is the crowning achievement of God's creation. In Genesis 1:26-27 , it is written, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This passage underscores the unique status of humanity, being made in the image of God, which implies a special relationship with the Creator and a mandate to exercise dominion over the earth.

The Fall and Its Consequences

The narrative of the Fall in Genesis 3 describes how humanity, represented by Adam and Eve, disobeyed God, resulting in sin entering the world. Romans 5:12 states, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned." This original sin brought about a separation between humanity and God, introducing death and suffering into human experience.

Redemption and Salvation

Despite the Fall, the Bible presents a message of hope and redemption for humanity. John 3:16 declares, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Through Jesus Christ, humanity is offered salvation and reconciliation with God. Romans 5:18-19 further explains, "So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as 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."

The Purpose and Destiny of Humanity

The Bible teaches that humanity's ultimate purpose is to glorify God and enjoy a relationship with Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13 summarizes this purpose: "When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." Furthermore, Revelation 21:3-4 provides a glimpse of humanity's destiny: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.'"

Humanity's Moral and Ethical Responsibilities

The Bible outlines moral and ethical responsibilities for humanity, emphasizing love, justice, and mercy. Micah 6:8 states, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" The teachings of Jesus further highlight the importance of love and compassion, as seen in Matthew 22:37-39 : "Jesus declared, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

The Unity and Diversity of Humanity

The Bible acknowledges both the unity and diversity of humanity. Acts 17:26 affirms, "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands." This verse highlights the common origin of all people, while also recognizing the diversity of nations and cultures. Galatians 3:28 emphasizes the spiritual unity of believers: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Humanity's Relationship with Creation

Humanity's role in creation is one of stewardship and care. Genesis 2:15 describes this responsibility: "Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it." This stewardship implies a duty to manage and protect the environment, reflecting God's care for His creation.
Topical Bible Verses
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Topicalbible.org

Genesis 1:26
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 creeps on the earth.
Topicalbible.org

Romans 1:1-32
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God,
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 6:26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
Topicalbible.org

John 17:17
Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 24:36
But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Topicalbible.org

Psalm 150:6
Let every thing that has breath praise the LORD. Praise you the LORD.
Topicalbible.org

Psalm 148:1-14
Praise you the LORD. Praise you the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The quality of being human; the peculiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from other beings.

2. (n.) Mankind collectively; the human race.

3. (n.) The quality of being humane; the kind feelings, dispositions, and sympathies of man; especially, a disposition to relieve persons or animals in distress, and to treat all creatures with kindness and tenderness.

4. (n.) Mental cultivation; liberal education; instruction in classical and polite literature.

5. (n.) The branches of polite or elegant learning; as language, rhetoric, poetry, and the ancient classics; belles-letters.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CHRIST, HUMANITY OF

See CHRIST, HUMANITY OF.

Greek
5591. psuchikos -- natural, of the soul or mind
... 5591 ("natural") typically describes the ("lower") aspect of humanity, ie behavior
that is "more of (carnality) than heaven." 5591 () then sometimes stands in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5591.htm - 8k

4976. schema -- figure, shape
... visible form") is used of Jesus' earthly body (Phil 2:7,8). Christ incarnated into
a body, which was not an "exact match with typical humanity" because His ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4976.htm - 7k

5363. philanthropia -- love for mankind, kindness
... 5363 (from 5384 , "a friend" and 444 , "of , people") -- properly, a "friend
(benefactor) of humanity"; a person who warmly loves others, treating them with ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5363.htm - 7k

3958. pascho -- to suffer, to be acted on
... divine image. Note for example how Jesus in His perfect (sinless) humanity
keenly (3958, see Lk 17:25, 22:15, 24:26,46, etc.). [3958 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3958.htm - 9k

4027. perikatharma -- that which is cleaned off, refuse
... describes someone as "the filth of the world, representing 'the most abject and
despicable men' (Grimm-Thayer) -- the scum or rubbish of humanity" (Vine, Unger ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4027.htm - 7k

Library

Humanity in the City
Humanity in the City. <. Humanity in the City EH Chapin. Produced
by Julia Miller and the Online Distributed Proofreading ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapin/humanity in the city/

The Deity and Humanity of Christ, John 1 3-Jan 14 Col. 9 16 Eph. 3 ...
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:2. The deity and humanity of Christ, John 1. 1-3
14. Col. 9. 16. Eph. 3, 9 10. 1 Ere the blue heavens were ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 1 2 the deity and.htm

Humanity and the Bible. December 6.
... Humanity and the Bible. December 6. He who has an intense perception of
humanity must know that Christianity is divine, because ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /humanity and the bible december.htm

The Humanity of God
... SERMON IX."THE HUMANITY OF GOD. Luke 15:7. ... There are three parables in this
chapter: all agree in one quality" in their humanity. ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon ix the humanity of god.htm

Of Humanity to Strangers.
... Theophilus to Autolycus: Book III. Chapter X."Of Humanity to Strangers.
Since therefore they were strangers in the land of Egypt ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter x of humanity to strangers.htm

Whether Christ's Humanity Should be Adored with the Adoration of " ...
... OF THE ADORATION OF CHRIST (SIX ARTICLES) Whether Christ's humanity should be adored
with the adoration of "latria"? ... But Christ's humanity is a creature. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs humanity should be.htm

Whether Christ's Humanity and Godhead are to be Adored with the ...
... OF THE ADORATION OF CHRIST (SIX ARTICLES) Whether Christ's humanity and
Godhead are to be adored with the same adoration? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs humanity and godhead.htm

Visions of the Sacred Humanity, and of the Glorified Bodies. ...
... Chapter XXVIII. Visions of the Sacred Humanity, and of the Glorified Bodies.
Imaginary Visions. Great Fruits Thereof When They Come from God. ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxviii visions of the.htm

The Deity and Humanity of Christ. John 1:1,3,14;Col. 1:16
... HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS IN THREE BOOKS. HYMN 2 The deity and humanity of Christ.
John 1:1,3,14;Col. 1:16. LM The deity and humanity of Christ. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 2 the deity and.htm

The Cause of Humanity Hopeful.
... MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS. 999. " The Cause of Humanity Hopeful. 999.
LM Anonymous. The Cause of Humanity Hopeful. 1 The past ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/999 the cause of.htm

Thesaurus
Exaltation (9 Occurrences)
... The community of natures gave these Divine qualities to the humanity of Jesus, which
Luther declared involved its ubiquity, and that as He was at the right ...
/e/exaltation.htm - 27k

World (2829 Occurrences)
... perhaps sometimes including angels (1 Corinthians 4:9), but as a rule human beings
only; then, in view of the fact of universal human failure, humanity in its ...
/w/world.htm - 40k

Flesh (468 Occurrences)
... man and animals (Genesis 2:21; 41:2; Psalm 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Psalm
16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity as a ...
/f/flesh.htm - 69k

Agony (20 Occurrences)
... he prayed more earnestly, saying, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away
from me." The mental clearness of Christ's vision of humanity's moral guilt ...
/a/agony.htm - 18k

Cruelty (8 Occurrences)
... the Messianic kingdom, predicted by the prophets, is the cessation of war with all
of its Law of Israel also reflected this tendency toward humanity, and many ...
/c/cruelty.htm - 16k

Cruel (196 Occurrences)
... the Messianic kingdom, predicted by the prophets, is the cessation of war with all
of its Law of Israel also reflected this tendency toward humanity, and many ...
/c/cruel.htm - 42k

Person (807 Occurrences)
... I. THE TEACHING OF PAUL 1. Philippians 2:5-9 (1) General Drift of Passage (2) our
Lord's Intrinsic Deity (3) No Examination (4) our Lord's Humanity 2. Other ...
/p/person.htm - 49k

Obedience (61 Occurrences)
... problem. It finds its solution in the conditions of the Redeemer's work
and life on earth in the light of His true humanity. Both ...
/o/obedience.htm - 43k

Redeemer (42 Occurrences)
... It is impossible to strike out of the Scriptures the idea of a redeemed humanity.
But humanity is not conceived of in general or class terms. ...
/r/redeemer.htm - 45k

Righteousness (442 Occurrences)
... from a very early period the characteristic of Hebrew righteousness is that it moves
in the direction of what we should call today the enlargement of humanity. ...
/r/righteousness.htm - 56k

Resources
What is man / mankind / humanity? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God (imago dei)? | GotQuestions.org

Why is the humanity of Jesus important? | GotQuestions.org

Humanity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Humanity (3 Occurrences)

Romans 8:3
For what was impossible to the Law--powerless as it was because it acted through frail humanity--God effected. Sending His own Son in a body like that of sinful human nature and as a sacrifice for sin, He pronounced sentence upon sin in human nature;
(WEY)

Ephesians 2:15
by setting aside the Law with its commandments, expressed, as they were, in definite decrees. His design was to unite the two sections of humanity in Himself so as to form one new man,
(WEY)

Hebrews 2:14
Since then the children referred to are all alike sharers in perishable human nature, He Himself also, in the same way, took on Him a share of it, in order that through death He might render powerless him who had authority over death, that is, the Devil,
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Humanity

Related Terms

Kind (290 Occurrences)

Humanity (3 Occurrences)

Humanly (1 Occurrence)

Humanism
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