continued from last week 1/30/05

The word "man" is found two thousand six hundred fifteen times in the Bible. The first use of the word "man" is Genesis 1:26 and the last use of the word "man" is Revelation 22:19. The word "men" is found one thousand six hundred fifty three times in the Bible. The first use of the word "men" is Genesis 4:26 and the last use of the word "men" is Revelation 21:3. The word "man" is translated from several different Hebrew words in the Old Testament and several different Greek words in the New Testament. One word (adam) which is translated man in the Old Testament means "mankind in the collective sense" (Wilson 265). Another word (‘lysh) which is translated man in the Old Testament means "a man, a male (Exo. 35:29), a husband (Gen. 3:6); an inhabitant, a citizen; mankind; a person, a human being..." (Zodhiates 1576). This word is found more than 2,000 times in the Old Testament. One word (anthropos) translated "man" in the New Testament means "man, a generic name in distinction from gods and animals" (Zodhiates 1665). This word is found five hundred fifty nine times in the New Testament and is translated "man" five hundred fifty two times. Another word (aner) which is translated "man" means "man, male...a man as distinguished from a woman or child" (Zodhiates 1665). This word is found two hundred fifteen times in the New Testament and is translated "man" one hundred fifty six times, "husband" fifty times, "sir" six times, "fellows" one time (Acts 17:5), and is not translated two times (Luke 24:19; Acts 3:14). Therefore the context of the word "man" must be the determining factor of the meaning of the word.

Man is composed of body, soul, and spirit. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37). One day the body of man will return to the dust of the ground, but the spirit will return to God (Eccl. 12:7).

What does the word "profited" mean? The word (ophele’o) which is translated "profited" means "to assist, to be useful or advantageous, to profit...to be helped or profited..." (Thayer 683). The profit of something or the value of something is often in the eye of the beholder. The soul of man is of such great value because in the eyes of the Lord it is of more value than all the physical riches this world has to offer.

The source of the soul of man makes it valuable. What is the origin of man? The Bible gives a very straightforward and simple explanation of the origin of life on earth. Moses declared that God created plant life on day three (Gen. 1:11-13), on the fifth day God created life in the seas (Gen. 1:21-23), and on the sixth day God created animal life (Gen. 1:24-25). The Bible continues to give a very simple explanation of the origin of man (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7). The origin of man never can be intelligently explained outside of Genesis chapters one and two. Man is the crowning act of God’s creation. Following each day of creation (day one through day five) the Bible said, "God saw that it was good." Then following the creation of man and woman on day six God saw "everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good..." (Gen. 1:31). Man is created in the very image of God (Gen. 1:26). What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Man has flesh, body, which God created from the dust of the ground. Man has a spirit and a soul (Job 32:8). Man is not in God’s physical image (Gen. 2:7; Luke 24:39), therefore he must be in God’s spiritual image (John 4:24).

Man is given his spirit, soul, by God. Jeremiah by inspiration wrote "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jer. 1:5). The Psalmist declared "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb, I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Psa. 139:13-16). The wise man Solomon declared that God is the one who gave man his soul (Eccl. 12:7). Isaiah wrote concerning the fact that the Lord is the one that forms man (Isa. 49:5). The fact that the soul comes from God makes it valuable.

Because of the value of the soul, salvation of the soul is needed. There are four Hebrew words translated salvation in the Old Testament. The word "salvation" is found one hundred fifty eight times in the Bible. One Old Testament word (yeshuw’ah) which is translated "salvation" means "to save; bring salvation...deliverance, help; safety, welfare" (Wilson 366). Another Old Testament word (yeh’shah or yesha) which is translated "salvation" means "liberty, deliverance, prosperity: – safety, salvation, saving" (2 Sam. 22:3; 23:5; Psa. 18:2,35,46; 24:5; 25:5; 27:1,9; 50:23; 51:12; 69:13; 95:1; Isa. 17:10; 61:10; Mic. 7:7; Hab. 3:13,18) (Wilson 366). Another Old Testament word (yasha’) which is translated salvation means "to be open, wide or free...to be safe...free or succor..." (Isa. 59:16; 63:5) (Wilson 366).

Larry Powers