Green on human nature in the bible - slide 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

Joel Green on human nature in the bible

Some N.T. passagesMatt. 10: 28 - not about dualism but

about afterlifeLuke 8:42-48 - about being saved

from isolaton and restored to communal living

Green on human nature in the bible - slide 6

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 7

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 8

Joel Green on human nature in the bible

Green’s conclusionsN.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.