Key Features Of Human Nature In The Hebrew Bible
1. Describe the concept of human nature in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). What are its key features?
In the Old Testament, God is described as the maker of heaven and earth, and as having the ability to see into the hearts of humankind. Two key features about human nature in the Old Testament include humans being “made in the image of God, each of equal worth of everyone else,” and that humans are a vital part of any community, so “the relation of the community to God is one of loyalty and trust” (Pojman 16). Three more key features are that the Ten Commandments, supplemented by the kosher rules, regulate life, that social justice issues and mercy will “gradually replace the ritualistic kosher rules as decisive for pleasing God,” and finally …show more content…
Describe the development of human nature from the early books in the Hebrew Bible to those of the prophets. What are the main changes? In the Hebrew Bible, human nature will progressively go from tribal particularism to universalism. But, concerning the Old Testament prophets, “a more individualistic sense of moral responsibility begins to replace the tribal sense of morality” (Pojman 11).
6. How would you compare and contrast the view of human nature in the Old and New Testaments? Human nature has a consistent meaning from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Furthermore, human nature is first good, but can be corrupted by sin. The Hebrew Bible also “contains the symbols and narratives that define the history of Israel, but they may also be seen as the prelude to the Christian New Testament” (Pojman 16).
7. What is meant by the Logos? How does it apply to human nature?
The Logos is the divine “Jesus of Nazareth” because he “is both the paradigm of the perfect being … and the savior of the world” (Pojman 17). Furthermore, Jesus of Nazareth is “the exemplar of moral virtue” (Pojman 17). This Logos applies to human nature because, “as the logos, he enlightens every person who is born” (Pojman …show more content…
Also, the doctrine of the Great Chain of Being has influenced Christian Culture because it’s existence is suggested “in the New Testament and early church but was developed to the full doctrine … by Augustine and other theologians in the Middle Ages” (Pojman 79). These ideas that Augustine created still are prevalent in today's theologies, and his Great Chain of Being helped people make sense of the universe as a
In the Old Testament, God is described as the maker of heaven and earth, and as having the ability to see into the hearts of humankind. Two key features about human nature in the Old Testament include humans being “made in the image of God, each of equal worth of everyone else,” and that humans are a vital part of any community, so “the relation of the community to God is one of loyalty and trust” (Pojman 16). Three more key features are that the Ten Commandments, supplemented by the kosher rules, regulate life, that social justice issues and mercy will “gradually replace the ritualistic kosher rules as decisive for pleasing God,” and finally …show more content…
Describe the development of human nature from the early books in the Hebrew Bible to those of the prophets. What are the main changes? In the Hebrew Bible, human nature will progressively go from tribal particularism to universalism. But, concerning the Old Testament prophets, “a more individualistic sense of moral responsibility begins to replace the tribal sense of morality” (Pojman 11).
6. How would you compare and contrast the view of human nature in the Old and New Testaments? Human nature has a consistent meaning from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Furthermore, human nature is first good, but can be corrupted by sin. The Hebrew Bible also “contains the symbols and narratives that define the history of Israel, but they may also be seen as the prelude to the Christian New Testament” (Pojman 16).
7. What is meant by the Logos? How does it apply to human nature?
The Logos is the divine “Jesus of Nazareth” because he “is both the paradigm of the perfect being … and the savior of the world” (Pojman 17). Furthermore, Jesus of Nazareth is “the exemplar of moral virtue” (Pojman 17). This Logos applies to human nature because, “as the logos, he enlightens every person who is born” (Pojman …show more content…
Also, the doctrine of the Great Chain of Being has influenced Christian Culture because it’s existence is suggested “in the New Testament and early church but was developed to the full doctrine … by Augustine and other theologians in the Middle Ages” (Pojman 79). These ideas that Augustine created still are prevalent in today's theologies, and his Great Chain of Being helped people make sense of the universe as a