What was the nature of man in the state of innocency?

Man in the state of innocency, as understood in the context of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, was created with the capacity to do good. This reflects the belief that humanity was originally made in the image of God, possessing a pure and unblemished nature before the fall into sin. In this state, man had the freedom and power to choose good, meaning that he was not bound by sin and had the moral ability to obey God's commands as intended.

This concept emphasizes the original righteousness of humanity, highlighting that Adam and Eve, prior to the fall, acted in accordance with God's will and were capable of living without sin. They had true freedom, which is the ability to choose rightly, rather than being shackled by sinfulness or corruption.

The other options do not accurately reflect the understanding of human nature in the state of innocency according to this catechism. The belief that man was inherently sinful contradicts the teaching that creation was initially good. Claims that man was limited in understanding and knowledge do not align with the view that Adam and Eve had the faculties necessary to fulfill their role as stewards of creation. Similarly, stating that man had no ability to choose good or evil misrepresents the belief in the freedom of will