The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q10. How did God create man?
A. God created man,—male and
female,—after
His own image,—in knowledge,
righteousness, and holiness,—with dominion over the creatures.[1]
[1] Genesis 1:27–28; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10.
We are taught several important truths in this short statement. Firstly, God created man male and female. This is for their mutual help and encouragement (Gen 2:18) as well as for the propagation of mankind (Gen 1:28). Secondly, we learn that man is created in the image of God. This does not refer to the physical constitution of man, for God is a spirit; but it refers to the moral attributes and the soul of man. The soul of man resembles God in possessing knowledge and reason, and in being righteous and holy. When he was first created, man knows God and His laws perfectly (cf. Rom 2:14–15), and is able to reason objectively without the influence of sin (noetic effect of sin). He was also righteous in his will, and has a natural disposition and ability to do good. He was holy in his affection, and so loved and delighted in God above all else. Finally, we learn that man as originally created was given dominion over all inferior creatures.