Sin

Actions that violate the law or moral standard of God. Also: Depravity; Iniquity; Sin unto Death; Transgression; Trespass; Worldliness

In some contexts, particularly in some Old Testament texts, the term “sin” is primarily used in reference to external actions performed by human beings (e.g., murder, adultery). In other parts of the Bible, the term “sin” is expanded to include the inner actions of humans, such as their thoughts and desires.

The story of creation in the Hebrew Scriptures differs from contemporary ancient Near Eastern myths in that the God of the Hebrews is seen as the sovereign creator of the world. Oswalt points out that in other myths, “there is never-ending conflict between the forces of construction and the forces of chaos” (Oswalt, Bible among the Myths, 59). In contrast, in Genesis, God creates all things “good,” and it is only through the disobedience of human beings that sin enters the world (Gen 1–3). Yet God makes a clear connection between sin and death even before sin is introduced into the world (Gen 2:17). Following the fall (Gen 3), this connection is made explicit in Cain’s murder of Abel (Gen 4:1–15).It is because of sin that God destroys the earth through the flood, preserving only Noah and his family (Gen 6:9–8:17). Several generations later, sin comes to be viewed even more severely because of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:1–3). The descendants of Abraham are not merely adhering to the commands of a tribal deity, nor are they just adhering to the commands of the one true God. Rather, they are called by the one true God to follow His commands as His special people, who are set apart from the rest of the nations, having received His blessings. They are set apart in ways the other nations are not, and ordered to follow God’s commands. When they do so, not only will they be blessed, but other nations will be blessed as well. There is thus a universal scope to Israel’s holiness, which implies avoidance of sin.

evil (behavior) — noun. morally objectionable behavior.

sin (act) — noun. an act or feeling that transgresses something forbidden or ignores something required by God’s law or character; whether in thought, feeling, speech, or action.

wicked person — noun. someone who is characterized by wickedness and godlessness.

to sin — verb. to violate a divine law.

evil — adjective. morally bad or wrong.

sin (guilt) — noun. estrangement from god.

sin (personification) — noun. sin personified as a destructive and depraved principle reigning over unbelievers and persisting in believers; especially as a slavemaster doling out payment with the currency of death and decay.

to transgress — verb. to act in disregard of laws, commandments or promises, such as covenants.

wickedness — noun. the quality of being wicked.

unrighteousness — noun. failure to adhere to moral principles, commands, or laws.

wicked people — noun. a group of people characterized by wicked behavior and character.

evil (quality) — noun. the quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice.

transgression — noun. the action of going beyond or overstepping some moral boundary or limit.

to stumble (err) — verb. to make an error.

transgressor — noun. a person who goes beyond or oversteps a moral boundary or limit.

to act wickedly — verb. to behave in a morally bad or unrighteous manner.

to cause to sin ⇔ trip — verb. to cause someone to sin, often with an idea of finality or falling away; conceived of as causing someone to stumble and fall.

sinful — adjective. having committed unrighteous acts.

wicked — adjective. morally bad in principle or practice.

evil (influence) — adjective. having or exerting a malignant influence.

stumbling block (spiritual) — noun. some immaterial obstacle or impediment; often with the implication of causing to stumble into iniquity.

worthless (despicable) — adjective. morally reprehensible.

to sin ⇔ stumble — verb. to sin, conceived of as missing a step and falling or nearly falling.

unrighteous — adjective. characterized by deviating from accepted standards of morality or justice.

to be evil — verb. to be morally bad or wrong.

to be wicked — verb. to be or become morally bad in principle or practice.

cause sin ⇔ stumbling — noun. any cause that results in a person sinning; whether by preventing righteous action or by promoting sinful behavior.

sinfulness — noun. the state of being out of conformity to the requirements of God’s law.

sin (standard) — noun. a standard determining what is out of conformity to justice, law, or morality as given by God.

wicked woman — noun. a woman who is characterized by wickedness and godlessness.

Mt 27:4,Mk 9:42–47 Lk 7:34;Lk 7:39, Jn 8:7, Jn 8:33–36, Jn 9:2–3, Ro 3:20, Ro 5:21, Ro 6:16, 1 Co 15:56, 1 Ti 5:20, Tt 3:11, Jas 1:15, Jas 4:17, 1 Jn 1:8–2:3, 1 Jn 3:4–10, 1 Jn 5:16–19