Type of Doctrine: Primary
" . . . the LORD said in his heart, 'I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth . . . '"
-Genesis 8:21 ESV
Why Does It Matter?
Are babies born sinful? How does Adam's sin affect you and me? Are we affected by it and, as a result, spiritually dead? Perhaps we are just weakened by Adam's sin? Or maybe Adam's sin doesn't affect you and me at all? This article will explore these questions concerning the doctrine of sin.
This is typically considered a primary issue. The church has considered Pelagianism a heresy for many centuries. However, in another sense, it could be considered a secondary issue choosing between Augustinianism and Semi-Pelagianism (however, that is debated!).
What Is It?
There are three main types of theology, and they all attempt to understand how Adam's sin affects us today. In the story of the Fall in Genesis 3, Moses describes the descent of humanity into sin. Thus the question: Are subsequent humans affected by Adam's sin?
The term that is often used regarding this topic is "original sin." What is it? According to Millard Erickson it is the "effect of the sin of our predecessors, and particularly Adam, upon us" (Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology, 121). In other words, we are sinners prior to any sinful action that we have taken. We have a sinful nature. We are guilty. We deserve punishment. As Stephen Nichols has said, "They don’t become sinners when they sin; they are sinners. And because they are sinners, they sin. Because we are sinners, we sin" (Stephen Nichols, "3 Types of Theology"; author's emphasis). This encapsulates the doctrine of original sin.
"They don’t become sinners when they sin; they are sinners. And because they are sinners, they sin. Because we are sinners, we sin" -Stephen Nichols
Here is a brief overview of the three views on this topic (covered more extensively in the chart below):
People are spiritually dead due to Adam's sin (i.e., Augustinian).
People are not affected whatsoever by Adam's sin (i.e., Pelagianism; a heresy).
People are weakened by Adam's sin (i.e., Semi-Pelgianism, or some label it Semi-Augustinianism).
Here are a few key Scriptures to study on this topic:
Genesis 8:21 | 21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Psalm 51:5 | 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 14:1-3 | 1 To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Ecclesiastes 9:3 | 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Ephesians 2:1-3 | 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The following chart is based on Gregg R. Allison, 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2018), 140. The view highlighted in gray has been considered heresy by the church for many centuries.
The 3 Types of Theology
View | Description |
Augustinianism | Adam's sin affects every human; his sin is imputed to each person. People are considered spiritually dead and in need of divine grace. Everyone, therefore, is born with original sin (that is, they are both guilty before God and their nature is corrupt). As a result, every person deserves eternal punishment. People do not cooperate with God to be saved, but instead, God must act first. (Lutheran and Reformed theology subsequently continued in the Augustinian path opposing Pelgaianism.) |
Pelagianism | There is no relationship between Adam's sin and other people. Adam's sin only affected him. Subsequent people do not have guilt from Adam's sin. Adam may, at worst, be a bad example. Every person is responsible for their own sin. (This has been considered heresy by the church for many centuries.) |
Semi-Pelagianism | The connection between Adam's sin and everyone else is somewhere in between Augustinianism and Pelagianism. People are weakened by sin rather than spiritually dead in it. Thus, having free will, sin doesn't prevent them from working with God's grace in order to be saved. (Later, Arminianism developed. It affirmed original sin but argued that God's prevenient grace has removed the negative effects from original sin which enables a person to cooperate with God to be saved. Even later, Wesleyan Arminianism affirmed original sin and prevenient grace but they added that it included "liability to eternal death, total depravity, and total inability" (Allison, 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith, 140). However, Wesleyan Arminianism does not affirm that people are condemned for Adam's sin by itself. Instead, it argues that people are punished for their actual sins.) |
Application
The best representatives of Augustinianism, Arminianism, and Wesleyan Arminianism all affirm original sin. The topic of original sin should awaken considerable humility. We are sinful by nature due to what happened in the garden. We are born sinful.
It should also awaken deep gratitude for the grace of God. Thank him today for the riches of his immeasurable grace.
Where Can I Learn More?
Bibliography:
Book
-Allison, Gregg R. 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2018.
-Erickson, Millard J. Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1986.
Articles
-Click here for Brittanica's entry, "Semi-Pelagianism"
-Click here for Brittanica's entry, "Pelagianism"
-Click here for Stephen Nichol's podcast/article titled, "3 Types of Theology"
-Click here for an article from Matt Perman titled, "What Is the Biblical Evidence for Original Sin?"