Joshua Bennett
Original sin is a topic that divides Christians. The Catholic Church teaches that original sin is transmitted by propagation to all mankind, as a consequence of Adam's sin. Adam, as the first man, lost the original holiness he had received from God, not only for himself but for all humans. Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called original sin. This is supported by the biblical text Romans 5:12: Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original sin in Catholic theology | The absence of original holiness and justice into which humans are born, distinct from the actual sins that a person commits |
| Who is responsible for original sin? | Adam, the first man, who lost the original holiness he had received from God, not only for himself but for all humans |
| What is transmitted to Adam's descendants? | Human nature wounded by their ancestor's first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice |
| What is the result of original sin? | Human nature is weakened in its powers, subject to ignorance, suffering and the domination of death, and inclined to sin (this inclination is called "concupiscence") |
| What is concupiscence? | The movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of the human reason; the rebellion of the "flesh" against the "spirit" |
| What is the role of baptism? | Baptism erases original sin but the inclination to sin remains |
| What is the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches' view on original sin? | Sin originates with the Devil; the church does not interpret "original sin" as transmitted guilt but with transmitted mortality |
| What is the Council of Trent's definition of original sin? | "The death of the soul" |
| What is the biblical text that the Magisterium appeals to as evidence for the belief in original sin? | Romans 5:12: "Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned" |
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What You'll Learn
Adam's sin transmitted to all humanity
In Catholic theology, original sin is the absence of original holiness and justice into which humans are born, distinct from the actual sins that a person commits. Adam, as the first man, lost the original holiness he had received from God, not only for himself but for all humans. Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants a human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called "original sin".
The doctrine of original sin does not impute the sin of the father to his children, but it states that they inherit from him a "human nature deprived of original holiness and justice", which is "transmitted by propagation to all mankind". This is also known as "concupiscence", which is the movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of the human reason. The apostle St Paul identifies it with the rebellion of the "flesh" against the "spirit". "Concupiscence stems from the disobedience of the first sin. It unsettles man's moral faculties and, without being in itself an offence, inclines man to commit sins."
The first man and woman transitioned from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience. The doctrine of the Fall comes from a biblical interpretation of Genesis, chapters 1–3. At first, Adam and Eve lived with God in the Garden of Eden, but the serpent tempted them into eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which God had forbidden. After doing so, they became ashamed of their nakedness and God expelled them from the Garden to prevent them from eating the fruit of the tree of life and becoming immortal.
Tertullian was perhaps the first to believe in the hereditary transmission of sin, based on the theory of traducianism, which states that each individual's soul was derived from the soul of their two parents. Because everyone is ultimately a descendant of Adam through sexual reproduction, the souls of humanity are partly derived from Adam's own soul—the only one directly created by God. As a sinful soul, the derived souls of humanity are also sinful.
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Baptism erases original sin
In Catholic theology, original sin is the absence of original holiness and justice into which humans are born, distinct from the actual sins that a person commits. This is a result of the first sin, where Adam, having received holiness and justice from God, lost it not only for himself but also for humanity. Consequently, Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants a human nature wounded by their own first sin and deprived of original holiness and justice. This deprivation is called "original sin".
The doctrine of original sin does not impute the sin of Adam to his children, but it states that they inherit from him a "human nature deprived of original holiness and justice", which is transmitted by propagation to all mankind. This is also referred to as the hereditary stain that is contracted at birth.
According to Catholic doctrine, baptism erases original sin and any actual personal sin. This belief is supported by St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica, where he states: "As the Apostle says (Rom. 6:3), 'all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in His death.' And further on he concludes (Rom. 6:11): 'So do you also reckon that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord.'". Thus, through baptism, a person dies unto the oldness of sin and begins to live unto the newness of grace, being freed from the guilt of original sin and actual sin.
However, it is important to note that while baptism erases original sin, the inclination to sin, or "concupiscence", remains. This is because, as a result of original sin, human nature is weakened and inclined towards evil, subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death. Concupiscence is described as the movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of human reason, or the rebellion of the "flesh" against the "spirit".
The practice of baptizing infants, who are not guilty of actual personal sin, has been explained by Augustine of Hippo. He proposed that original sin is contracted and not committed, meaning it is a state and not an act. The Catechism of the Catholic Church supports this view, stating that Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they transmitted in a fallen state.
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Transmitted by propagation to all mankind
Original sin is a concept in Catholic theology that holds that Adam and Eve's sin, often referred to as the "first sin", led to the fall of humanity and the loss of original holiness and justice. This resulted in a weakened human nature, prone to ignorance, suffering, and death, as well as an inclination to sin, called "concupiscence".
According to Catholic doctrine, original sin is transmitted by propagation to all mankind through the propagation of human nature. This means that Adam, as the first man, lost holiness and justice not only for himself but also for all his descendants. This transmission of original sin by propagation is a key aspect of Catholic theology and is often referred to as "hereditary stain" or "contracted sin".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that Adam and Eve transmitted a wounded human nature to their descendants, deprived of original holiness and justice. This deprivation is what constitutes original sin, and it is passed down through generations. The exact mechanism of transmission is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve both the spirit and the body, transmitted through both father and mother.
The Council of Trent defined original sin as "the death of the soul," emphasizing that it is a state rather than an act. This definition is supported by biblical texts such as Romans 5:12, which states, "Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned." This interpretation suggests that Adam's sin resulted in death spreading to all mankind, indicating a transmission of sin by propagation.
The transmission of original sin by propagation is further supported by the inclusion of infants and the mentally handicapped in Paul's category of "all have sinned." This implies that original sin is not a result of personal sins committed by individuals but rather a state inherited from Adam's first sin. The doctrine of original sin emphasizes the need for baptism to wash away original sin, even for infants who have not committed personal sins.
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Inclination to sin remains after baptism
In Catholic theology, original sin is the absence of original holiness and justice into which humans are born as a result of Adam's sin. This original sin is transmitted by propagation to all mankind, depriving individuals of sanctifying grace and holiness. While baptism erases original sin, the inclination to sin, or "concupiscence", remains.
Concupiscence, in Catholic doctrine, refers to the movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of human reason. It is an inclination to evil, or a "rebellion of the flesh against the spirit". This inclination is a consequence of the first sin, with human nature weakened and inclined to evil, subject to ignorance, suffering, and death.
The effects of Adam's sin are death and suffering. As a result, all of humanity shares not in his guilt but in the same punishment. This is reflected in the Catholic Encyclopedia, which states that "one man has transmitted to the whole human race not only the death of the body, which is the punishment of sin, but even sin itself, which is the death of the soul."
Baptism is a sacrament in the Catholic Church that forgives all sins, including original sin and personal sins, and imparts the life of Christ's grace. It is a foundation of communion among Christians, incorporating the baptised into Christ and sealing them with an indelible spiritual mark of belonging to Him. Despite the forgiveness of sins through baptism, the consequences of original sin, such as the inclination to sin, persist in human nature.
The persistence of the inclination to sin after baptism highlights the ongoing spiritual battle that individuals face. While baptism provides forgiveness and a turning back towards God, the weakened nature of humanity, as a result of original sin, remains a challenge. This understanding underscores the importance of ongoing spiritual growth and conversion within the Catholic faith.
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Original sin is a state, not an act
Original sin is a concept in Catholic theology that refers to the absence of original holiness and justice in humans at birth, distinct from the actual sins committed by a person during their lifetime. It is rooted in the biblical story of Adam and Eve, who, through their act of yielding to the tempter, committed a personal sin that affected and transmitted human nature in a fallen state to their descendants. This transmission of original sin is often referred to as "concupiscence".
While the specific understanding of original sin has evolved over time within the Catholic Church, the fundamental idea remains that it is a state rather than an act. This means that original sin is not a personal or voluntary act of wrongdoing committed by each individual. Instead, it is a condition or state of being that humans are born into as a result of the first sin of Adam and Eve.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies this distinction by stating that original sin is "called 'sin' only in an analogical sense: it is a sin 'contracted' and not 'committed'—a state and not an act". This transmission of original sin, or concupiscence, is described as the "movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of human reason". It is an inclination or predisposition towards sin, but not a personal sin in itself.
The concept of original sin as a state and not an act is further supported by the understanding that Adam's sin resulted in the transmission of death with sin to all humanity. This interpretation is based on Romans 5:12, which states, "Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned." Here, the emphasis is on the spread of death and sin to all humanity, indicating a universal condition or state rather than individual acts of sin.
Additionally, the doctrine of original sin does not impute the sin of Adam directly to his children. Instead, it states that they inherit a "human nature deprived of original holiness and justice," which is transmitted by propagation to all mankind. This transmission of a fallen human nature is the basis for understanding original sin as a state that humans are born into rather than an act that they consciously commit.
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Frequently asked questions
Original sin is the absence of original holiness and justice into which humans are born, distinct from the actual sins that a person commits. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines original sin as "the death of the soul".
Original sin is transmitted by Adam to all of humanity, his descendants. Adam and Eve, through their first sin, transmitted human nature wounded by sin, deprived of original holiness and justice, to their descendants. This transmission is called "original sin".
Original sin weakens human nature, making humans subject to ignorance, suffering, death, and an inclination to sin (called "concupiscence"). This inclination to sin remains even after baptism, which erases original sin.
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