What is man?

The essay that I don’t think was so brilliant was actually on the topic of what we can learn of God’s estimate of man from his creation (see Psalm 8:4). Basically what I had to say was that God made man is his image, with personal and transcendent qualities, set him in dominion (as in kingly rule, as in to look after it) over the creation, for relationship with himself. It was slightly more involved than that, but seemed to be lacking in grit to me, so I thought, when in doubt add Calvin. Hence, I dug up the Geneva Catechism:

Master. — What is the chief end of human life?

Scholar. — To know God by whom men were created.

M. What reason have you for saying so?

S. Because he created us and placed us in this world to be glorified in us.

And it is indeed right that our life, of which himself is the beginning,

should be devoted to his glory.

M. What is the highest good of man?

S. The very same thing.

The nature of a created thing is in accordance with its purpose, so I worked this in to the conclusion of my not-so-brilliant essay.