Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 17

How did God create man?

After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female;a formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground,b and the woman of the rib of the man,c endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls;d made them after his own image,e in knowledge,f righteousness,and holiness;g having the law of God written in their hearts,h and power to fulfil it,i and dominion over the creatures;j yet subject to fall.k

How did God create man?

After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female;a formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground,b and the woman of the rib of the man,c endowed them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls;d made them after his own image,e in knowledge,f righteousness,and holiness;g having the law of God written in their hearts,h and power to fulfill it,i and dominion over the creatures;j yet subject to fall.k

  1. a. Genesis 1:27

    Genesis 1:27

    1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

    1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Genesis 2:7

    Genesis 2:7

    2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

    2:7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Genesis 2:22

    Genesis 2:22

    2:22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

    2:22 And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. Genesis 2:7; Job 35:11; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Matthew 10:28; Luke 23:43

    Genesis 2:7

    2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

    2:7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

    Job 35:11

    35:11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

    35:11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?'

    Ecclesiastes 12:7

    12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

    12:7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

    Matthew 10:28

    10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

    10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

    Luke 23:43

    23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

    23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  5. e. Genesis 1:27

    Genesis 1:27

    1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

    1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  6. f. Colossians 3:10

    Colossians 3:10

    3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

    3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  7. g. Ephesians 4:24

    Ephesians 4:24

    4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

    4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  8. h. Romans 2:14–15

    Romans 2:14–15

    2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

    2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 2:15 So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  9. i. Ecclesiastes 7:29

    Ecclesiastes 7:29

    7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

    7:29 Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  10. j. Genesis 1:28

    Genesis 1:28

    1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

    1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  11. k. Genesis 3:6; Ecclesiastes 7:29

    Genesis 3:6

    3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

    3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

    Ecclesiastes 7:29

    7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

    7:29 Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Related (2)

The Baptist Catechism (1695), parallel to this question

Question 13

How did God create man?

God created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 10

How did God create man?

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Commentaries (10)