ST-502 Terms_Lecture 11_Original Sin

Concupiscence 2

(From Lat. con, "with," and cupere, "to desire") The desire of the self for the self, which is the human tendency toward sin. per WDTT

Augustine's idea of Original Sin

-- prior to the fall Adam was "able not to sin" (posse non peccare) --after the fall we are "not able not to sin" (non posse non peccare) --in heaven we will be "not able to sin" (non posse peccare) per Holtzen

Original Sin as Inherited

All humans are genetically "in" Adam and carry the taint of his original sin in their being and do not merely imitate Adam as Julian asserts. per Holtzen

Guilt and Fault of Original Sin

Augustine believed all humans inherit the results of Adam's fall as both reatus (Lat.) and vitium (Lat.). Baptism removes the former, hence infants should be baptized. The latter, called concupiscence, remains. per Holtzen

Pride

Augustine describes this as the original sin, which is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Theologically speaking, it is placing oneself in the place of God. It is as Urban says "self-idolatry". per Holtzen

massa damnata

Augustine's description of humankind as a "lump of perdition". This happens because the human being is body and soul, flesh and spirit, there is an interplay between the two. Original sin spread through propagation: Because of the body, the soul was infected with sin, and through propagation the infected soul was passed to all human beings. per Holtzen

original righteousness (Lat. originali justitia)

Humanity as created by God had this quality which was lost in the Fall. per Holtzen

The Theological Problem of Pelagianism, per Holtzen

If sin is by imitation then salvation is by imitation and we become saved by works. Hence the incarnation is not necessary. However, if sin is by human nature, then salvation must be by human nature. Hence the incarnation was necessary. per Holtzen

Venial sin (Lat. peccatum veniale) 2

In Roman Catholic theology, a slight sin in the sense of being sin that does not rupture one's relationship with God. It is in contrast to "mortal sin." It is evil and inclines one away from God but is less severe in its effects than a mortal sin would be. per WDTT

Mortal sin (Lat. peccatum mortale) 2

In Roman Catholic theology, sin that can cause eternal, spiritual death, in contrast to venial (slight) sin. It causes a complete rupture of one's relationship with God. per WDTT

"Simultaneously a sinner and just" (Lat. simul iustus et peccator)

Luther held that a person's concupiscence remains after baptism and concupiscence is essentially sin. Against this the Council of Trent held that concupiscence remains after baptism, but is not sin. per Holtzen

"Responsibility despite inevitability"

Niebuhr defends both the idea of original guilt and fault as the core Christian insight and assertion about sin. per Holtzen

"A fault and corruption of the nature of every man." (Lat. vitium et depravatio naturae)

Post-lapsarian humanity is inclined to sin. This inclination is not merely an imitation of the sin of Adam, but a sin that it rooted in the human make-up. The BVM possessed this, but not Christ because he was born of the Holy Spirit. per Holtzen

Original Sin (Lat. peccatum originalis) 2

Refers to the moral and spiritual condition of concupiscence in human beings into which they are born as a result of Adam's sin, the tendency to commit sin found in human beings. Adam's disobedience caused a loss of grace, that is a loss of communion with God and we inherit Adam's situation. (It does not refer to a person's actual sin.) per Holtzen

Sin 1

The Greek word αμαρτι'α (hamartia), means to miss the mark, lose, not share in something, be mistaken. In the NT, it is used for everything that opposes God. The Greek word αδικι'α means unjust, wrong doer, commit injustice, etc. In the OT this is disobedience to God who is himself the rule of all justice and rightness. per Holtzen

Original Sin as by Imitation

The assertion by Pelagius and Julian that humankind sins only in imitation of Adam, not by nature. per Holtzen

Mortal sin (Lat. peccatum mortale) 1

The class of sin that is considered deadly because it destroys one's graced relationship with God. The term is found in 1 John 5:16 which speaks of a sin leading to death. per Holtzen

Venial sin (Lat. peccatum veniale) 1

The class of sin that is considered pardonable sin because it hinders one's graced relationship with God yet does not destroy communion with God. The term is from the Latin word meaning pardon. per Holtzen

Original Sin (Lat. peccatum originalis) 1

The condition of sinfulness which all persons share and which is caused by the sinful origins of the race (Adam and Eve) and the fall (Gen. 3). Theologically it consists of the loss of original righteousness and the distortion of the image of God. per WDTT

St. Paul's idea of Original Sin

The idea that there is a solidarity of all humankind with Adam, that somehow, perhaps semenially, all persons were in Adam because we are physically descended from Adam. Actual sins are of less import than original sin. Not only is the human being corrupted by sin in this view, but also the very earth itself. per Holtzen

Concupiscence 1

The result of Adam's sin that is inherited. It manifests as greed, or inordinate desire for something. It is this an uncontrolled and unbrideled desire that propensity for sin that is called original sin. For Augustine, it is a fault or weakness in human nature, but not a sin. per Holtzen

The "Original Sin"

The sin of Adam and Eve was not disobedience as we might think. Rather, Augustine believes it was simply a turning of the human will away from the highest Good that is God, to a lesser good that is the created world-since it is created and therefore changeable: "For this failure does not consist in defection to things which are evil in themselves; it is the defection in itself that is evil." per Holtzen

Corporate sin

The sin of a group of persons in contrast to the individual sin of a particular person. per WDTT

Individual sin

The sin of a particular person in contrast to the corporate sin of a group of persons. per WDTT

Sin 2

This term is translated as various Hebrew and Greek words, with many shades of meaning. Theologically, it is the human condition of separation from God that arises from opposition to God's purposes. It may be breaking God's law, failing to do what God wills, or rebellion. It needs forgiveness by God. per WDTT

Actual Sin

Thoughts, words, or deeds that constitute a deliberate violation of God's will and law and are thus sinful. per WDTT