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Summary
- The Bible defines sin as “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4) and includes good left undone (James 4:17).
- The Hebrew verb chata’ properly means “to miss,” and the Greek hamartia originally meant “missing the mark.”
- Churches distinguish original sin, inherited from Adam, from actual sin, but describe original sin differently; the Orthodox teach that only Adam and Eve bear its guilt.
- The Catholic Church divides sin into mortal and venial; a mortal sin needs grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent.
- Scripture names death, separation from God and slavery to sin as its consequences, and promises forgiveness to those who confess and repent (1 John 1:9).
- Methodists hope for entire sanctification in this life; Lutheran, Reformed, Catholic and Orthodox teaching holds that believers still sin.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (1611), text of Project Gutenberg eBook no. 10 (Genesis 2:17; 3:6; Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 24:16; Judges 20:16; Psalm 51:4; Proverbs 14:34; 28:13; Isaiah 59:2; Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 5:28; 7:5; 22:37–40; 25:46; Mark 7:21–23; Luke 13:3; 19:8; John 8:34; 16:8; Acts 3:19; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:1–2, 12, 23; 7:19; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 5:19–21; Ephesians 2:1; James 2:10; 4:17; 1 John 1:8–9; 2:2; 3:4; 5:16–17). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10
- “H2398 – ḥāṭā’.” Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon and Brown-Driver-Briggs entry, Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2398/kjv/wlc/0-1/
- “G3340 – metanoeō.” Strong’s Greek Lexicon, Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3340/kjv/tr/0-1/
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. Paragraphs 385–409 (the Fall and original sin): https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1C.HTM; paragraphs 1263–1264: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3N.HTM; paragraph 1394: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P42.HTM; paragraphs 1451–1460: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4D.HTM; paragraphs 1471–1473: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4G.HTM; paragraphs 1849–1851: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6A.HTM; paragraphs 1852–1853: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6B.HTM; paragraphs 1854–1864: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6C.HTM; paragraphs 1865–1869: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6D.HTM
- Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), questions 14 and 18. https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-shorter-catechism/
- Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapters 6, 13 and 15. https://thewestminsterstandard.org/the-westminster-confession/
- Augsburg Confession (1530), Article II, “Of Original Sin,” https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/original-sin/; Article XII, “Of Repentance,” https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-repentance/
- The United Methodist Church. Articles of Religion, Articles VII and XIV. https://www.umc.org/en/content/articles-of-religion
- The United Methodist Church. Confession of Faith, Articles VII and XI. https://www.umc.org/en/content/confession-of-faith
- Wesley, John. A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. The Wesley Center Online. https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/a-plain-account-of-christian-perfection/
- Hopko, Thomas. The Orthodox Faith, vol. 1, Doctrine and Scripture, “Sin.” Orthodox Church in America. https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/sin
- Hopko, Thomas. The Orthodox Faith, vol. 4, Spirituality, “Sin.” Orthodox Church in America. https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/orthodox-spirituality/sin1
- Orthodox Church in America. “Original Sin.” Questions & Answers. https://www.oca.org/questions/teaching/original-sin
- Orthodox Church in America. “Sin.” Questions & Answers. https://www.oca.org/questions/sacramentconfession/sin
- “Sin.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/sin-religion
- Ostberg, René. “Seven Deadly Sins.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/seven-deadly-sins
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