Exploring Theological Distinctions and Historical Context

Today Dr Will Ryan & Dr. Matt launch a series examining the Doctrine of Original Sin. If you’ve followed us long enough you’ve probably seen there are 2 theologies we tend to jab at quite a bit: Dispensationalism, and Calvinism/Reformed Theology, So we basically have issues with doctrines that promote fear and a distortion of God’s Character. In this series we’ll be looking at how Original Sin is not Biblical or Ancient. The first 400 years of the Church did not believe this There is zero evidence that Judaism ever believed this. Messianic Jews do not believe this. The Eastern Orthodox church along with some Protestant denominations never adopted this view. As we’ll see in this intro, Augustine was the inventor of this doctrine in the 5th century and much of it was due to his importation of his pagan background into Christianity.

Defining original sin

We do not deny that there was AN ORIGINAL SIN. What we will be referring to as “Original Sin” is the doctrine of Original Sin which teaches that because of Adam and Eve’s sin we are all born guilty before God and that we inherit their guilt from birth. Sometimes we may refer to this as Original Guilt. This is also called Augustinian Anthropology or Augustinian Original Sin

Original Sin is the building block for Total Depravity or Total Inability of Calvinism’s TUPLIP which is about the nature of man in that they are so totally depraved that they cannot even seek after God. 

Augustine and Original Sin

The doctrine came into the church through Augustine of Hippo (396-440 CE) and the doctrine was originally called Concupiscence.  

“Concupiscence” , according to Augustine, relates to Adam’s sin being transferred through sexual reproduction.  It’s root definition is a base sexual desire. We get our word concubine from this.  He believe that though this all men are born with their will, body, and mind corrupt and this is transmitted sexually. They inherited the sin through the sexual act leading to birth. Augustine could only read Latin. He tried to learn Greek but despised it due to his teacher who was very hard on him and so never learned it. He also could not read Hebrew. Augustine came to original sin by reading Romans 5:12 in a bad Latin translation. 

Augustine and Pelagianism 

Often the label thrown at those who disagree with Original Sin or who hold to Freedom of the Will is “Pelagian”. 

Augustine developed 14 points of accusation against Pelagius. But you can look Pelagius’ writings and they completely refute the accusations. 

The 14 Points of Pelagianism:

1. Adam was created mortal & would die whether he sinned or not 

2. Adam’s sin harmed only Adam, not mankind 

3. The law leads to heaven in the same way as the Gospel 

4. Newborn infants are in the exact same state as Adam before his sin 

5. The whole human race doesn’t die through Adam & live through Christ 

6. Even unbaptized infants possess eternal life 

7. The wealthy must renounce their possessions or they will not see the Kingdom of Heaven 

8. God’s grace & help are not given for individual actions, but consist in free will, the law & teaching. 

9. God‘s grace is given in accord with our merits & is located in the human will 

10. Only those who are without sin can be called children of God 

11. Forgetfulness & ignorance are not sinful since they’re not done willingly 

12. A choice is not free if it needs God’s help 

13. Our victory is not the result of God’s help, but free will 

14. The soul can be as sinless as God. 

“Pelagianism” is based on Augustine’s 14 claims that Pelagius actually never believed. They are a strawman, a distortion, defamation, and slander of the beliefs of an orthodox Christian in order to change orthodoxy in the church.