Lexicon Number for "alaletoisin" in the Bible
The term "alaletoisin" (ἀλαλητοῖσιν) is not a word found in the Greek New Testament or the Septuagint. It appears to be a transliteration error or a misunderstanding of a Greek word. The concept of sin, however, is central to biblical theology and is expressed through various Greek and Hebrew terms.
The Bible consistently presents sin as a fundamental human problem. In the Old Testament, Psalm 58:3 states that "All human beings are born sinners," a sentiment echoed in Psalm 51:5 [1]. While the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly strive against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10) [1]. Proverbs 30:8 uses the term "vanity" to encompass "all sorts of sinful acts" [2]. The first sin, as described in Genesis 3:13, involved Adam and Eve being "beguiled" by flattering lies, leading to a "heinous and aggravated" act of disobedience that prioritized self and creature over God [4]. This act was not merely eating an apple, but a profound dishonor to God and ingratitude to their benefactor [4]. Deliberate sins are often characterized by an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [5].
The New Testament further develops the understanding of sin. Paul, in Romans 1:18–3:20, establishes the universal sinfulness of humanity, arguing that both Gentiles and Jews are "equally under sin’s power" and cannot achieve favor with God through their own actions [6]. God's anger is depicted not as an arbitrary emotional outburst, but as a necessary response from a holy God to sin, a theme present throughout the Old Testament and culminating in a decisive outpouring of wrath at the end of history [6].
The Apostle John also addresses the nature of sin in his first epistle. one tradition states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil," contrasting this with those who "doeth righteousness" [3]. Augustine, in his Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, clarifies that while one can become a "child of the devil" through imitation, the devil does not beget anyone; rather, corruption stems from the devil [3]. Bengel further notes that from the devil there is "not generation, but corruption" [3]. John also warns against denying the presence of sin, stating that if "we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8) [7]. To claim "we have not sinned" (1 John 1:10) is to make God a liar, a more severe claim than merely lying or deceiving oneself [7]. This refers not only to past sins but also to the commission of actual sins even after conversion, and the "sin of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us" [7].
Sources
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”