Skip to content
Wellsprings
christian-soteriologyfeatured in 40 works

Original Sin

From one man's fall, a wound passed to every child of Adam

Original sin names the fallen condition humanity is held to inherit from Adam's first transgression, drawn especially from Romans 5 and shaped by Augustine against Pelagius. The traditions differ on its content: the Western, Augustinian view stresses inherited guilt, while the Eastern tradition emphasizes inherited mortality and corruption rather than guilt. All agree humanity needs God's grace; they describe the inheritance differently.

How it traveled

  1. Romans
    Corinth · 67
    explains
  2. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  3. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  4. Homilies on First Corinthians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    applies
  5. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  6. Against the Pelagians
    Bethlehem · 420
    explains
  7. The Letters of St. Jerome
    Bethlehem · 420
    explains
  8. A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  9. A Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  10. On Marriage and Concupiscence
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  11. A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  12. City of God
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  13. A Treatise on the Soul and its Origin
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  14. A Treatise on Nature and Grace
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  15. Expositions on the Book of Psalms
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  16. The Enchiridion
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  17. A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  18. Letters of St. Augustin
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  19. A Treatise on the Predestination of the Saints
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  20. Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  21. A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  22. A Treatise on Rebuke and Grace
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  23. The Confessions
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  24. Reply to Faustus the Manichæan
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  25. Anselm's Cur Deus Homo
    Canterbury · 1109
    explains
  26. Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)
    Paris · 1274
    explains
  27. Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)
    Paris · 1274
    explains
  28. Discussion: Third Part
    Wittenberg · 1546
    explains
  29. Commentary on Galatians
    Wittenberg · 1546
    explains
  30. Discussion: Second Part
    Wittenberg · 1546
    explains
  31. Discussion: First Part
    Wittenberg · 1546
    explains
  32. 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 Gospel
    Geneva · 1564
    explains
  33. Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It
    Geneva · 1564
    explains
  34. The great christian doctrine of original sin defended
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains
  35. XIV Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvation
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains
  36. Seventeen Occasional Sermons
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains
  37. a careful and strict inquiry into the prevailing notions of the freedom of will
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains
  38. Men Naturally God's Enemies
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains
  39. A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains
  40. A History of the Work of Redemption
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains

Key passages(20)

A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo

Very high

Chapter 15 [XII.]—The One Sin Common to All Men. But observe more attentively what he says, that “through the offence of one, many are dead.” For why should it be on account of the sin of one, and no

Tap to expand

8. But lest the thing itself of which we speak be unknown or doubtful, it will be proper to define original sin. (Calvin, in Conc. Trident. 1, Dec. Sess. 5). I have no intention, however, to discuss a

Tap to expand

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

Tap to expand

If sin be such a thing as Dr. T. himself represents it, p. 69. “a thing of an odious and destructive nature, the corruption and ruin of our nature, and infinitely hateful to God;” then such a propensi

Tap to expand

That everyone of mankind, at least such as are capable of acting as moral agents, are guilty of sin, (not now taking it for granted that they come guilty into the world,) is most clearly and abundantl

Tap to expand

Before I leave this passage (Rom. iii. 9-24.) it may be proper to observe, that it not only is a most clear and full testimony to the native depravity of mankind, but also plainly declares that natura

Tap to expand

Chapter 4 [IV.]—Pelagians and Manicheans on the Praise of the Creature. These things being so, what advantage is it to new heretics, enemies of the cross of Christ and opposers of divine grace, that

Tap to expand

A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo

Very high

Chapter 11.—The Ancients Assumed Original Sin. You see with what confidence this great man expresses himself after the ancient and undoubted rule of faith. In advancing such very certain statements,

Tap to expand

5. As Adam’s spiritual life would have consisted in remaining united and bound to his Maker, so estrangement from him was the death of his soul. Nor is it strange that he who perverted the whole order

Tap to expand

10. Let us have done, then, with those who dare to inscribe the name of God on their vices, because we say that men are born vicious. The divine workmanship, which they ought to look for in the nature

Tap to expand

Here begins Canon CIX. of the Latin text. Canon CIX. (Greek cxij. continued.) That Adam was not created by God subject to death. That whosoever says that Adam, the first man, was created mortal, so

Tap to expand

Chapter 26.—Through Adam’s Sin His Whole Posterity Were Corrupted, and Were Born Under the Penalty of Death, Which He Had Incurred. Thence, after his sin, he was driven into exile, and by his sin the

Tap to expand

THE EVIDENCE OF ORIGINAL SIN FROM WHAT APPEARS IN FACT OF THE SINFULNESS OF MANKIND. All mankind constantly, in all ages, without fail in any one instance, run into that moral evil, which is in effec

Tap to expand

If there are any in the world—though but lately become capable of acting for themselves, as subjects of God’s law—who are perfectly free from sin; such are most likely to be found among the children o

Tap to expand

2. There has been given to the world an example of virtue, which, were it not for a dreadful depravity of nature, would have influence on them who live under the gospel, far beyond all other examples;

Tap to expand

Thus a propensity, attending the present nature or natural state of mankind, eternally to ruin themselves by sin, may certainly be inferred from apparent and acknowledged fact.—And I would now observe

Tap to expand

OBSERVATIONS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, CHIEFLY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THAT PROVE THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN. Original depravity may well be argued, from wickedness being often spoken of

Tap to expand

Now what account can be given of these things, on Dr. T.’s scheme? How strange is it, that we should have such descriptions, all over the Bible, of man, and the sons of men! Why should man be so conti

Tap to expand

Very remarkable is that place, Job xv. 14-16.“What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the hea

Tap to expand

In which she tells AEneas, that not a goddess was his mother, nor Anchises his father; but that he had been brought forth by a horrid rocky mountain, and nursed at the dugs of tigers, to represent the

Tap to expand