Download Joel Green on human nature in the bible

Joel Green on human nature in the bible
Recent work in science suggests a
physicalist account of human beings. Is
this compatible with the biblical account of
human nature? And can the biblical
account add anything?
Popular Christianity has tended toward
dualism.
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 1
Joel Green on human nature in the bible
Hebrew Bible
Genesis describes only humans as
being in the image of God, but it does
not suggest dualism.
The theme of imago Dei points to the
uniqueness of human beings, but this
uniqueness is not based on dualism.
It is located in the capacity of
humans to relate to God & other
persons.
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 2
Joel Green on human nature in the bible
Hebrew Bible treats humans as
integrated wholes. And it emphasizes
that human persons are fully human
only through community. “We are,
therefore I am.”
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 3
Joel Green on human nature in the bible
The New Testament
Is difficult to sort out because of
Hellenic influence. And Hellenic thought
was not unified -- dualisms of many
kinds (Plato, Aristotle, Epicureanism,
Stoicism).
Moreover, late books of the Hebrew
Bible show Hellenic influences.
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 4
Joel Green on human nature in the bible
Some N.T. passages
Matt. 10: 28 - not about dualism but
about afterlife
Luke 8:42-48 - about being saved
from isolaton and restored to
communal living
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 5
Joel Green on human nature in the bible
Luke 16:19-31 -Is the parable about
an intermediate state and about a
disembodied soul? Green argues it is
not. It is about a messenger to the
living from the dead & refusal to send
one. The characters in Hades act as
human agents with a corporeal
existence.
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 6
Joel Green on human nature in the bible
1 Cor 15:38-58 - Paul’s discussion of
resurrection. Notion of resurrection transformation of bodily existence
into some new form at some future
time. Is not immortality.
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 7
Joel Green on human nature in the bible
Green’s conclusions
N.T. does not contain dualism.
Does not contain notion of
disembodied soul or escape from the
body (Plato).
Salvation consists in relatedness to
God & other human persons.
Green on human nature in the bible - slide 8