Concupiscence
The pull toward sin that lingers in fallen human nature — but is it itself a sin?
Concupiscence is the disordered desire or inclination to sin that remains in fallen human nature, a theme developed especially by Augustine. The traditions differ over its status after baptism: Catholic teaching holds that concupiscence remaining in the baptized is not itself sin, though it inclines toward sin, while much Protestant teaching regards this remaining disorder as truly sinful. The disagreement bears on how each tradition understands grace and ongoing struggle.
How it traveled
- JamesJerusalem · 62explains
- RomansCorinth · 67explains
- The Instructions of Commodianus.— · 220explains
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and EphesiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- On Marriage and ConcupiscenceHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise Against Two Letters of the PelagiansHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on Nature and GraceHippo Regius · 430explains
- On ContinenceHippo Regius · 430explains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of InfantsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- On Christian DoctrineHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal FaultsMarseille · 435explains
- The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-XMarseille · 435explains
- The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIVMarseille · 435explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Internal ConsolationZwolle · 1471explains
- Discussion: Second PartWittenberg · 1546explains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from ItGeneva · 1564explains
- The great christian doctrine of original sin defendedNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Seventeen Occasional SermonsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three PartsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- a careful and strict inquiry into the prevailing notions of the freedom of willNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 28 [XXV.]—Concupiscence Remains After Baptism, Just as Languor Does After Recovery from Disease; Concupiscence is Diminished in Persons of Advancing Years, and Increased in the Incontinent. I
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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 4 [IV.]—Concupiscence, How Far in Us; The Baptized are Not Injured by Concupiscence, But Only by Consent Therewith. Concupiscence, therefore, as the law of sin which remains in the members of
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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 46. Compare Augustin’s Contra Julianum, vi. c. 22. You must not be surprised at what I have said, that although the law of sin remains with its concupiscence, the guilt thereof is done away
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On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 58.—Adam’s Sin is Derived from Him to Every One Who is Born Even of Regenerate Parents; The Example of the Olive Tree and the Wild Olive. But this sin, which changed man for the worse in para
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On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 55 [XXXIII.]—Lust is a Disease; The Word “Passion” In the Ecclesiastical Sense. He then passes on from those who are united in marriage to those who are born of it. It is in relation to these
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On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 17 [VII.]—The Pelagians are Not Ashamed to Eulogize Concupiscence, Although They are Ashamed to Mention Its Name. But among so many names of good things, such as bodies, sexes, unions, he nev
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On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 29 [XXVI.]—How Concupiscence Remains in the Baptized in Act, When It Has Passed Away as to Its Guilt. In the case, then, of those persons who are born again in Christ, when they receive an en
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On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 30 [XXVII.]—The Evil Desires of Concupiscence; We Ought to Wish that They May Not Be. For the concupiscence of the flesh is in some sort active, even when it does not exhibit either an assent
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On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 9 [VIII.]—This Disease of Concupiscence in Marriage is Not to Be a Matter of Will, But of Necessity; What Ought to Be the Will of Believers in the Use of Matrimony; Who is to Be Regarded as Us
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Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, The sensitive appetite is one generic power, and is called sensuality; but it is divided into two powers, which are species of the sensitive appetite---the irascible and the concupiscib
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 3: Although the Church of Rome does not celebrate the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, yet it tolerates the custom of certain churches that do keep that feast, wherefore this is no
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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 27.—In What Sense Lust is Called Sin in the Regenerate. But concerning that concupiscence of the flesh of which they speak, I believe that they are deceived, or that they deceive; for with th
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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 28 [XIV.]—Many Without Crime, None Without Sin. All these products of concupiscence, and the old guilt of concupiscence itself, are put away by the washing of baptism. And whatever that concu
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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 34 [XVII.]—Whether There Could Be Sensual Appetite in Paradise Before the Fall. But, while maintaining, ye Pelagians, the honourableness and fruitfulness of marriage, determine, if nobody had
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A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter XXI.—(44.) Conclusion of the Work. In the Regenerate It is Not Concupiscence, But Consent, Which is Sin. Whosoever, then, supposes that any man or any men (except the one Mediator between God
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A Treatise on Nature and Grace · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 61 [LIII.]—Paul Asserts that the Flesh is Contrary Even in the Baptized. Now let us see whether we anywhere read about the flesh being contrary in the baptized also. And here, I ask, to whom
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A Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 44 [XXXIX.]—Even the Children of the Regenerate Born in Sin. The Effect of Baptism. This concupiscence of the flesh would be prejudicial, The three phrases here marked with asterisks have a
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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 70 [XXXIX.]—How Far Sin is Done Away in Infants by Baptism, Also in Adults, and What Advantage Results Therefrom. In infants it is certain that, by the grace of God, through His baptism who c
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A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 25.—The Passage in Romans. Now carefully consider this entire passage, and see whether it says anything about circumcision, or the Sabbath, or anything else pertaining to a foreshadowing sacr
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
11. Another point is, that this corruption never ceases in us, but constantly produces new fruits—viz. those works of the flesh which we previously described, just as a burning furnace perpetually sen
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