Using Counter-Cultural Illustrations to Challenge Success Assumptions

The concept of original sin describes humanity's fallen state, inherited from the first human parents, Adam and Eve. This inherited condition affects all individuals, leading to a propensity toward sin and a separation from God. Different traditions articulate the nature and extent of original sin with varying nuances.

The Augustinian view, influential in Western Christianity, posits that humanity inherited both the guilt and the corruption of Adam's sin. Augustine argued that infants are involved in the guilt of sins not only from the first parents but potentially from their immediate parents as well, before regeneration through the new covenant ^[8]. This perspective suggests that original sin is a singular, transmitted offense from Adam to his posterity ^[3]. John Calvin, a key figure in Reformed theology, further elaborated on original sin as a complete corruption of all parts of human nature, requiring a renewal of the mind and suppression of gross appetites ^[4]. Charles Hodge, another Reformed theologian, also discusses original sin within his systematic theology ^{[6, 13]}. The Augsburg Confession, a foundational Lutheran document, similarly affirms original sin as a condition inherited from Adam, rendering humanity without true fear of God or true faith, and deserving of eternal wrath unless regenerated ^[7]. The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of the Anglican tradition describe original sin as the "fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam," leading to a departure from original righteousness and a natural inclination to evil ^[11].

Eastern Orthodox theology, while acknowledging the inherited consequences of Adam's sin, tends to emphasize the inherited corruption and mortality rather than inherited guilt. John of Damascus, an influential Eastern Orthodox theologian, discusses the fallen state of humanity without explicitly using the term "original sin" in the same juridical sense as Western traditions ^[10]. The focus is often on the ancestral sin leading to a corrupted nature and an environment of sin, rather than a direct transmission of Adam's personal guilt.

Biblical texts frequently allude to this inherent human sinfulness. For instance, the Psalms declare that all human beings are born sinners ^[1]. Another passage from the Psalms speaks of people sinning "with our fathers," suggesting a continuity of sinfulness across generations and a corrupt nature derived from ancestors ^[5]. Proverbs also refers to "vanity" as encompassing all sorts of sinful acts ^[2]. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 7:19-23 and James 4:1-10, describes the internal struggle against a sinful nature, which aligns with the concept of an inherited inclination to sin ^[1].

The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses original sin, viewing it as a state rather than an act, a deprivation of original holiness and justice, and a wounded human nature that is inclined to evil (concupiscence) ^[12]. While it acknowledges the transmission of original sin, it clarifies that it is not a personal fault in the descendants of Adam, but a state into which they are born ^[12].

Rabbinic tradition, as seen in the Targum Jonathan, emphasizes the importance of avoiding sin and seeking the "right and proper way," reflecting a recognition of human moral failing, though not necessarily articulating a doctrine of inherited sin in the same way as Christian traditions ^[9].

Despite differences in articulation, the various traditions generally agree that humanity is in a fallen state, characterized by an inclination to sin and a need for divine intervention for salvation. This shared understanding underscores the necessity of grace and redemption.

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).”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of Original Sin, As to Its Essence, Art. 2: Article: Whether there are several original sins in one man? I answer that, In one man there is one original sin. Two reasons may be assigned for this. The first is on the part of the cause of original sin. For it has been stated (Question [81], Article [2]), that the first sin alone of our first parent was transmitted to his posterity. Wherefore in one man original sin is one in number; and in all men, it is one in proportion, i.e. in relation to its first principle. The seco”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 37: a description of original sin; The same thing appears more clearly from the mode of renovation. For the spirit, which is contrasted with the old man, and the flesh, denotes not only the grace by which the sensual or inferior part of the soul is corrected, but includes a complete reformation of all its parts ( Eph. 4:23 ). And, accordingly, Paul enjoins not only that gross appetites be suppressed, but that we be renewed in the spirit of our mind ( Eph. 4:23 ), as he elsewhere tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind ( ”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 106:6: We have sinned with our fathers,.... Sinned in their first father Adam; derived a corrupt nature from their immediate ancestors; sinned after the similitude of their transgressions; sinned after their example, in like manner as they did; guilty of the same gross enormities as they were: though sufficiently warned by the words of the prophets, and by punishments inflicted, they continued their sins, a constant series and course of them, and filled up the measure of their iniquities; they rose up in their stead an increase of sinful men, to augment the fierce anger of ”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 144: 1:23 2:8 2:9 2:22 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:18-19 3:19 3:21 3:22 5:10 2 Peter 1:3 1:3 1:10 1 John 1:1-3 1:1-3 1:7 1:8 1:10 2:1 2:1 2:2 2:2 2:2 2:20 2:20 2:27 3:4 3:16 3:17 3:24 4:9 4:10 4:10 4:10 5:1 5:1-18 5:10 5:12 5:19 Jude 1:4 Revelation 1:5 2:7 5:9 6:9 12:9 13:8 16:10-11 17:14 20:2 20:4 22:2 22:14 22:17 Wisdom of Solomon 2:24 2 Maccabees 7:9”
Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), Article II. Of Original Sin.: Article II. Of Original Sin.”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 46.--IT IS PROBABLE THAT CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED IN THE GUILT NOT ONLY OF THE FIRST PAIR, BUT OF THEIR OWN IMMEDIATE PARENTS.: And it is said, with much appearance of probability, that infants are involved in the guilt of the sins not only of the first pair, but of their own immediate parents. For that divine judgment, "I shall visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children,"(7) certainly applies to them before they come under the new covenant by regeneration. And it was this new covenant that was prophesied of, when it was said by Ezek”
Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on I Samuel 12:23: As for me, far be it from me that I should sin before the LORD and cease to pray concerning you. But I will teach you the way, that you may be in the right and the proper way.”
CCEL (Eastern Orthodox) “John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, section 105: 9:5 9:5 9:5 9:19 9:21 9:21 10:4 10:4 10:6-9 10:13-21 10:17 11:8 11:25-27 11:28 11:32 11:33-36 11:36 11:36 11:36 12:3 12:13 15:10 15:12 16:25-27 1 Corinthians 1:9 1:10 1:17-25 1:20 1:20-25 1:23 1:23 1:23-24 1:24 1:24 1:24 1:27 1:27 2:2 2:7-8 2:8 2:8 2:8 2:10-11 2:11 2:12 2:12 2:14-15 3:8 3:8 3:16 3:17 3:19 7:2 7:25 7:31 8 8:5 8:6 8:6 8:6 8:6 8:6 8:7 10:1 10:17 10:31 11:2 11:24-26 11:29 11:31-32 12:3 12:3 12:3 12:3 12:4-7 12:4-11 12:5-6 12:5-6 12:8 12:8 12:8-10 12:11 12:12 12:24 13:10 14:32 14:37 15:3-4 15:16-17 15:20 15:2”
Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), 9.Of Original or Birth-sin.: 9.Of Original or Birth-sin.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 3. the anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, "leading"). We can view (part 2): 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi. The New Testament: the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of St. Paul to the Romans, ”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 41: inspiration, but it is not necessary in order to prove that doctrine that we should first prove the being of God. If he denies that God exerts any direct efficiency in the government of the world, and holds that everything is the product of fixed laws, he cannot believe what the Scriptures teach of inspiration. If the supernatural be impossible, inspiration is impossible. It will be found that most of the objections, especially those of recent date, are founded on unscriptural views of the relation of God to the world, or on the peculiar ”

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