Question: Are All Men Really Created Equal?

[CV75]

 I mean obviously we aren't born physically equal -- I'm scrawny whereas my brother is not. And we obviously aren't born mentally equal, or emotionally equal, or socially equal, etc. The scriptures state that in the pre-mortal existence we weren't even spiritually equal then.

 

Not only are men NOT created equal

It does depend on how one is using which meaning of “equal.” The scriptures from Acts 17:26 (1 Corinthians 15: 39 also – “there is one kind of flesh of men”) and Romans 8:21 show that we are of one blood and one kind of flesh (equal in that regard) and suffer the bondage of death (equal in that condition).

 

The OP is asking whether Bible scripture states that all men are created equal. Nowhere does the Bible state, “All men are created equal.”

 

But Isaiah 40:25 states, “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One,” a rhetorical question that means that He has no equal among men. If none are equal to Him (at least in mortality), all are created equal in their not being equal to God.

 

1 Corinthians 15:22 says, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” We are all created equal in that we all die and are resurrected (2 Corinthians 5:14 also; “…if one died for all, then were all dead…”).

[thesometimesaint]

I would suggest that It makes the most sense as a political concept made use of by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident..." It is not used to say that each individual is born with equal potential for virtue, intelligence, or industry. In the context, it means that each man was born with God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There are obvious qualifications to be made. The man who is unjust toward his neighbor may correctly be deprived of his equal rights to liberty or even life. I doubt Jefferson would say this, but I would add that in principle, no man has the right to "pursue happiness" in a fashion that is contrary to the revealed laws of the same God who bestowed upon him the political rights aforementioned. 

 

Not so much Jefferson but that of Hamilton. The writer of our Constitution. "Equal Justice Under Law". .

[Garden Girl]

This is really a broad topic, and many good observations have been stated here, i.e., what exactly is meant by "equal"?  Were we ever equal?  Is it in our nature to be equal?

There could be "equal" circumstances created for several people... the parable of the talents comes to mind... even though the three servants received an "unequal" number of talents, they were given the same opportunity... to do something with the talents they received, or to sit back and hide their talent. Two of the servants increased their talents through their efforts and both were praised and each was told "well done thou good and faithful servant" by the lord of those servants even though they returned an unequal amount of talents.  But the servant who did not take the opportunity to increase his talent at all was chastised as a wicked and slothful servant...

We see this in "life" all the time.  We have always had examples of people born into circumstances (talents)  which may be unequal,  but who will press forward and increase their position (talents)... and those who will be satisfied to let opportunities pass them by and sit and whine about their position... there are many variables that can play into circumstances... good and bad... for instance the person who tries very hard to increase his position but "things" seem to hold that person back, some even beyond the person's control...

Hmmm, I'm rambling... but I think you get what I'm trying to say... which is that though we are all loved equally by the Lord as his children since he is no respector of persons, we on the other hand are not equal in the way we proceed on our life paths or the circumstances that can and do influence those paths and how we react to those influences.

So, no, we are not equal per se...

 

GG