All of the old handbooks for the teaching of youthful Christians begin with the doctrine of man. For where life is actually being lived, there the question as to what man is becomes primary. It is at this point that men need help, and need it at once. What man thinks of himself is of utmost importance. Man is man’s greatest problem. Unless man learns again to see what he is, and to act in harmony with the kind of being he is, there is no hope for him on the planet. Man is a central theme in the Bible. Man is a creature of God, created in the image of God. That is the basic Christian position from which Mr. Verduin writes this highly provocative, biblically insightful book. In it one will find interesting and helpful psycho¬logical, sociological, and racial (or anthropological) insights into the nature of man. Above all, however, one will see man as the Bible sees him. While it is true that one of the earmarks of the Bible- taught man is his God-concept, or his Christ-concept, it is just as true that he may be known by his man-concept.
Here, then, is a kind of classical, though fresh, statement and under-, standing about who we really are — we creatures, we image-bearers, we masters of nature, decision-makers, makers of speech and culture. Somewhat Less Than God will be very useful to preachers, for it is after all man to whom the gospel is addressed. And it will be very useful to teachers of Bible, theology, and religion, because it moves firmly and surely through the biblical record. Finally — is it too much to hope? — teachers and students of sociology, psychology, and anthropology will find the themes discussed here illuminating their own special areas.