The doctrine of The Fall of Humanity, also known as Original Sin, is rooted in the belief that humanity inherited a sinful nature due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This concept forms a foundational element of Christian theology, especially in relation to human nature, salvation, and the need for redemption. The interpretation and acceptance of this doctrine vary among Christian denominations. Below are scriptures often used in support of and in opposition to the doctrine, along with theological interpretations.
I. Scriptures Supporting the Doctrine of Original Sin
- Genesis 3:6 (KJV) – “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food… she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
Interpretation: This act of disobedience marks the original fall of humanity.
Theological View: Most traditional Christian views assert that this act introduced sin into the human race, affecting all descendants. - Romans 5:12 (KJV) – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
Interpretation: Paul’s theology emphasizes that Adam’s sin brought death and sin to all.
Theological View: Key verse for original sin; used to argue that all humans inherit Adam’s sinful nature. - Psalm 51:5 (KJV) – “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Interpretation: David’s confession reveals the belief in a sinful condition from conception.
Theological View: Often cited to support the idea of inherited sin. - Romans 3:23 (KJV) – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Interpretation: Universal condition of sin.
Theological View: Original sin results in all being sinners by nature and action. - Ephesians 2:3 (KJV) – “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past… and were by nature the children of wrath.”
Interpretation: Humans are described as naturally deserving of God’s wrath.
Theological View: Supports the inherited sinful condition from Adam. - 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV) – “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Interpretation: Adam’s actions brought death to all.
Theological View: Highlights the corporate effect of Adam’s fall. - Job 14:4 (KJV) – “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.”
Interpretation: The impurity of human nature is inherent.
Theological View: Suggests sinfulness is inherited and cannot be purified naturally. - Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Interpretation: Human nature is fundamentally corrupt.
Theological View: Consistent with the doctrine that sin taints human nature from birth.
II. Scriptures Argued Against the Doctrine of Original Sin
- Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV) – “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father…”
Interpretation: Individual responsibility for sin.
Theological View: Argues against inherited guilt from Adam. - Deuteronomy 24:16 (KJV) – “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers…”
Interpretation: Denial of intergenerational punishment.
Theological View: Opposes the idea that Adam’s guilt is imputed to his descendants. - Isaiah 7:15-16 (KJV) – “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.”
Interpretation: Suggests moral choice develops with age.
Theological View: Implies humans are not born sinful but become morally responsible later. - Ecclesiastes 7:29 (KJV) – “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”
Interpretation: Humans were made good but chose to sin.
Theological View: Emphasizes free will over inherited sin. - Matthew 18:3 (KJV) – “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Interpretation: Jesus presents children as models of purity.
Theological View: Suggests children are not born sinful. - Romans 7:9 (KJV) – “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”
Interpretation: Paul experienced a time of innocence.
Theological View: Sin becomes real through knowledge and choice. - James 1:14-15 (KJV) – “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived…”
Interpretation: Sin arises from individual desires, not inherited nature.
Theological View: Refutes inherited sin, focusing on personal responsibility. - John 9:2-3 (KJV) – “Who did sin, this man, or his parents…? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents…”
Interpretation: Jesus dismisses inherited guilt for suffering.
Theological View: Used to question the justice of original sin.
Denominational Views
1. Roman Catholic Church
Summary of View:
Teaches that original sin is inherited guilt and corrupted nature passed from Adam to all his descendants. Baptism removes this guilt. Heavily influenced by Augustine and supported by Tridentine theology.
Debate:
Defends the Latin Vulgate historically, but modern Catholics consult original Hebrew and Greek texts. The doctrine is based largely on Romans 5 and Augustine’s reading of it.
FOR – Romans 5:12 (KJV):
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (KJV)
- Greek: ἁμαρτία (hamartia) – refers to sin as a condition or principle, not only a deed
- Interpretation: Interpreted to mean all sinned in Adam. Augustine took ἐφ᾽ ᾧ (eph’ hō) as “in whom,” linking all human sin to Adam’s act.
AGAINST – Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV):
“The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father…” (KJV)
- Hebrew: עָוֺן (avon) – means guilt or punishment of iniquity
- Catholic Reconciliation: This verse speaks of personal accountability under Mosaic law, not ontological guilt. The Catholic view allows for inherited spiritual effects while preserving moral agency.
2. Eastern Orthodox Church
Summary of View:
Rejects inherited guilt, affirms inherited mortality and corruption due to Adam (called Ancestral Sin). Sin is a disease more than a legal problem; salvation is healing (theosis), not juridical justification.
Debate:
Orthodoxy depends on Greek Septuagint (LXX) and original NT Greek. Strongly rejects Augustine’s Latin-based interpretation of Romans 5:12.
FOR – 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV):
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (KJV)
- Greek: ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) – “to die” physically and spiritually
- Interpretation: All inherit death, not guilt. Christ reverses death.
AGAINST – Deuteronomy 24:16 (KJV):
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children…” (KJV)
- Hebrew: מוּת (mûth) – to die; a legal penalty
- Theological View: Supports the Orthodox claim that sin’s legal penalty is individual, not inherited. Orthodox theology emphasizes freedom of the will post-Fall.
3. Evangelical (General)
Summary of View:
Affirms total depravity and inherited sin nature. Salvation is through faith alone. Varies on whether guilt is inherited (Calvinist = yes; Arminian = more emphasis on corruption).
Debate:
High regard for original languages. Most uphold the KJV while referencing Greek and Hebrew texts. Evangelicals also emphasize “plain reading” interpretations.
FOR – Psalm 51:5 (KJV):
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (KJV)
- Hebrew: עָוֺן (avon) – guilt, iniquity
- Interpretation: David confesses inherited sinfulness from conception, affirming total depravity.
AGAINST – James 1:14-15 (KJV):
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust…” (KJV)
- Greek: ἐπιθυμία (epithymia) – desire, craving
- View: Some Arminians use this to emphasize personal sin, not inherited guilt, as the cause of spiritual death.
4. Protestant (General)
Summary of View:
Generally affirms original sin. Lutherans and Reformed support inherited guilt and corruption. Liberal Protestants may reinterpret or deny original sin.
Debate:
Protestants led the charge for translation from Hebrew and Greek into vernacular languages. KJV, Tyndale, and Geneva Bible were crucial.
FOR – Romans 3:23 (KJV):
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (KJV)
- Greek: ἥμαρτον (hēmarton) – aorist tense: a completed action of sin
- Interpretation: Universality of sin. Reformed Protestants tie this to inherited sin and personal guilt.
AGAINST – Isaiah 7:15-16 (KJV):
“…before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good…” (KJV)
- Hebrew: מָאַס (ma’as) – to reject
- View: Suggests a moral consciousness develops over time—used by some Protestants to reject infant guilt.
5. Baptist (Southern, Independent, etc.)
Summary of View:
Affirms original sin as inherited nature. Most believe guilt is inherited (especially Reformed Baptists). Salvation is personal through faith and regeneration.
Debate:
Strong support for the KJV, but conservative Baptists also refer to original Hebrew and Greek.
FOR – Ephesians 2:3 (KJV):
“…and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (KJV)
- Greek: φύσει (physei) – by nature
- Interpretation: Supports idea of inherent sinfulness. The phrase “children of wrath” emphasizes divine judgment.
AGAINST – Matthew 18:3 (KJV):
“Except ye be converted, and become as little children…” (KJV)
- Greek: παιδία (paidia) – little child
- View: Used to argue that children are not guilty by nature; innocence is assumed until moral accountability.
6. Methodist (United, AME, etc.)
Summary of View:
Affirms original sin as inherited corruption, but believes in prevenient grace, which enables free will to respond to God.
Debate:
Use a Wesleyan-Arminian lens, focusing more on grace than legal guilt. Accepts both KJV and dynamic equivalence translations.
FOR – Romans 5:19 (KJV):
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” (KJV)
- Greek: κατεστάθησαν (katestathēsan) – to be appointed or made
- Interpretation: Humanity was made sinners through Adam’s disobedience, requiring divine intervention through grace.
AGAINST – Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV):
“…they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (KJV)
- Greek: πράσσω (prassō) – to practice, do habitually
- View: Emphasizes personal sin and willful actions as what condemns—not just inherited guilt.
7. Lutheran (Missouri Synod, ELCA, etc.)
Summary of View:
Affirms original sin as both inherited guilt and corrupted nature. Baptism, even for infants, is necessary for salvation.
Debate:
Lutherans were instrumental in Bible translation (Luther’s German Bible), holding Scripture and original languages in high regard.
FOR – Job 14:4 (KJV):
“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” (KJV)
- Hebrew: טָהוֹר (tahor) – clean, pure
- Interpretation: All humans are born spiritually unclean—points to inherited corruption.
AGAINST – Isaiah 53:6 (KJV):
“All we like sheep have gone astray…” (KJV)
- Hebrew: תָּעָה (ta’ah) – to stray, wander
- Lutheran Clarification: Used to support personal sinfulness, but still within a framework of inherited guilt.
8. Pentecostal (Assemblies of God, UPCI, etc.)
Summary of View:
Affirms original sin. Salvation includes repentance, water baptism, and Spirit baptism. Emphasizes new birth over inherited guilt.
Debate:
Generally KJV-leaning. Strong emphasis on Acts 2:38 rather than theological systems like Calvinism or Arminianism.
FOR – Genesis 8:21 (KJV):
“…for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth…” (KJV)
- Hebrew: יֵצֶר (yetser) – inclination, imagination
- Interpretation: Human nature is deeply flawed and inclined toward evil, necessitating spiritual rebirth.
AGAINST – Acts 17:30 (KJV):
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at…” (KJV)
- Greek: ὑπεριδών (hyperidōn) – to overlook
- View: God holds individuals accountable after knowledge is received, not for inherited guilt.
9. Jehovah’s Witnesses
Summary of View:
Reject inherited guilt but affirm inherited imperfection and death. Jesus’ death atones for Adam’s sin, not personal sin until maturity.
FOR – Romans 5:12 (KJV): (used selectively)
- Same verse, interpreted as passing imperfection, not guilt
- Emphasis: Jesus died to cancel Adam’s mistake, not individual guilt
AGAINST – Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV)
Same as previously used.
- Interpretation: Strongly supports individual moral accountability.
10. Mormonism (LDS)
Summary of View:
Denies original sin. Adam’s fall was a necessary part of God’s plan. Humans are born innocent and choose sin later.
FOR – 2 Nephi 2:25 (Book of Mormon):
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”
- LDS doctrine views the Fall as positive and part of eternal progression.
AGAINST – Romans 5:12 (KJV):
- They read this as introducing physical death, not guilt
- Greek misunderstood intentionally: hamartia = condition, not fault
11. Seventh-day Adventist
Summary of View:
Humans inherit fallen nature, not guilt. Children are not guilty until aware of right and wrong. Emphasizes moral accountability and choice.
FOR – Romans 3:10 (KJV):
“There is none righteous, no, not one:” (KJV)
- Universal sinfulness is affirmed, but guilt is personal.
AGAINST – Isaiah 7:15-16 (KJV):
As above, supports moral development before guilt.
SUMMARY
| Denomination | Inherited Guilt? | Inherited Corruption? | View of Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Yes | Yes | Legal and spiritual fall |
| Eastern Orthodox | No | Yes | Corruption and mortality |
| Evangelical | Usually Yes | Yes | Total depravity |
| Protestant (General) | Varies | Generally Yes | Varies from Reformed to Liberal |
| Baptist | Yes | Yes | Regeneration required |
| Methodist | No (guilt), Yes (corruption) | Yes | Prevenient grace |
| Lutheran | Yes | Yes | Infant baptism essential |
| Pentecostal | Yes | Yes | New birth emphasized |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | No | Yes | Jesus as ransom for imperfection |
| Mormonism | No | No | Fall was beneficial |
| Seventh-day Adventist | No | Yes | Individual accountability |
Conclusion
The doctrine of Original Sin—rooted in the Fall of Adam and Eve—reveals deep theological divides across Christian traditions. While many affirm that humanity has inherited a sinful nature, fewer affirm inherited guilt. These differences arise from diverging understandings of Scripture, varying emphases on grace and free will, and different interpretations of key Hebrew and Greek terms in the original biblical texts.
The Western traditions (Roman Catholic, most Evangelical, Baptist, Lutheran) tend to affirm both inherited guilt and corruption, following Augustine’s Latin interpretation of Paul’s writings, particularly Romans 5. The Eastern traditions (Eastern Orthodox) and restorationist movements (Jehovah’s Witnesses, LDS, Seventh-day Adventists) challenge this, emphasizing individual responsibility and sometimes viewing the Fall as non-condemnatory.
The KJV provides a foundation across English-speaking denominations, but translation and interpretation of critical terms such as “sin” (hamartia), “guilt” (avon), “death” (thanatos), and “made sinners” (katestathēsan) reveal the complexity and the importance of context, grammar, and theology in determining doctrine.
Table 1: Denominational Views For Original Sin
| Denomination | View | Interpretation | Scripture (KJV) & Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Inherited guilt and corruption | All sinned in Adam due to Adam’s disobedience | Romans 5:12 (KJV): “…death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” |
| Eastern Orthodox | Inherited corruption, not guilt | Death and mortality are inherited, not legal guilt | 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV): “For as in Adam all die…” |
| Evangelical | Inherited sinful nature and often guilt | Humanity is born into sin and separated from God | Psalm 51:5 (KJV): “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity…” |
| Protestant (General) | Generally inherited corruption and/or guilt | Sin is universal and innate | Romans 3:23 (KJV): “For all have sinned…” |
| Baptist | Total depravity from birth | Nature is sinful from conception | Ephesians 2:3 (KJV): “…by nature the children of wrath…” |
| Methodist | Corruption, not guilt; prevenient grace | Inherited sin but grace enables response | Romans 5:19 (KJV): “…by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” |
| Lutheran | Guilt and corruption inherited | Even infants are born guilty | Job 14:4 (KJV): “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” |
| Pentecostal | Inherited sin nature | Rebirth through Holy Spirit is essential | Genesis 8:21 (KJV): “…the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | Inherited imperfection (not guilt) | Sin is transmitted by nature, not moral guilt | Romans 5:12 (KJV): “…death passed upon all men…” (reinterpreted) |
| Mormon (LDS) | No inherited sin or guilt | Fall was necessary for human progression | 2 Nephi 2:25 (Book of Mormon): “Adam fell that men might be…” (not KJV) |
| Seventh-day Adventist | Inherited nature, not guilt | Personal responsibility emphasized | Romans 3:10 (KJV): “There is none righteous, no, not one.” |
Table 2: Denominational Arguments Against Original Sin (or its traditional form)
| Denomination | View | Argument Against Interpretation | Scripture (KJV) & Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Rejects denial of original sin | Distinguishes moral accountability from spiritual condition | Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV): “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father…” |
| Eastern Orthodox | Denies inherited guilt | Only death and corruption passed on, not blame | Deuteronomy 24:16 (KJV): “Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” |
| Evangelical (some Arminians) | Emphasizes personal sin | Temptation leads to sin, not original guilt | James 1:14 (KJV): “But every man is tempted…” |
| Protestant (Liberal) | Denies original guilt | Humans have moral development | Isaiah 7:15-16 (KJV): “…refuse the evil, and choose the good.” |
| Baptist (some Free Will) | Emphasize moral accountability | Children are innocent until age of understanding | Matthew 18:3 (KJV): “…become as little children…” |
| Methodist | Rejects condemnation of infants | Prevenient grace neutralizes guilt | Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV): “…they which do such things…” |
| Lutheran | Uphold guilt, but clarify baptism covers it | Some verses show individual action matters | Isaiah 53:6 (KJV): “All we like sheep have gone astray…” |
| Pentecostal | Sin nature emphasized, not guilt in infants | Ignorance not counted against people | Acts 17:30 (KJV): “…God winked at; but now commandeth all men…” |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | No inherited guilt | Sin is imperfection, not culpability | Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV): “The soul that sinneth, it shall die…” |
| Mormon (LDS) | Fall necessary and not condemnatory | Humans are born innocent | Articles of Faith 2: “Men will be punished for their own sins…” (Not KJV) |
| Seventh-day Adventist | Moral development required for guilt | Children are not condemned at birth | Isaiah 7:16 (KJV): “The child shall know to refuse the evil…” |
Summary
- Inherited Guilt: Affirmed by Roman Catholics, Reformed Protestants, Lutherans, and some Evangelicals.
- Inherited Nature (without guilt): Affirmed by Eastern Orthodox, Adventists, Methodists, and Pentecostals.
- No Original Sin Doctrine: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons reject traditional interpretations entirely.
- Scriptural Debate: Focuses on Romans 5, Psalm 51, and Ezekiel 18. Interpretation depends on theological presuppositions and views on Greek/Hebrew terms like hamartia, avon, physei, yetser.
- Translation Matters: The doctrine of Original Sin hinges on the meanings of prepositions and verbs in Greek (e.g., ἐφ᾽ ᾧ, katestathēsan) and Hebrew idioms (e.g., עָוֺן for guilt). Latin-based theology diverges from LXX-based Eastern interpretations.