History of the Doctrine of Original Sin
The Council of Trent (Catholicism) First Decree - June 17, 1546
1) Adam's sin resulted in his death, took away his righteousness, and changed his nature.
2) Adam's sin, unrighteousness, and guilt were transferred to all of humanity. Therefore, all are
3) Because of original sin transferred to all men, from the moment of birth man is guilty before
baptized for sins.4) Infants must be baptized for the remission of sins because they inherit the original sin of
*“For, by reason of this rule of faith, from a tradition of the apostles, even infants, who could not as yet commit any sin of themselves, are for this cause truly baptized for the remission of sins, that in them that may be cleansed away by regeneration, which they have contracted by generation. For, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."*
5) Baptism completely removes man's sin.
The verse quoted to support this decree was Romans 5:12
The Council of Trent was attempting to refute the movement of reformers, specifically radical reformers such as the Anabaptists and Baptists.
Anabaptist and Baptists: Held a view of believers Baptism.
They did not believe infants should be baptized. Instead, God would not condemn young children. Therefore, humanity was not born completely depraved and doomed.
Original Sin doctrine is noticeably absent in the Old Testament.
Any cases used to preach this doctrine in the Old Testament is a stretch.
Judaism does not have a doctrine of original sin.
Catholicism, churches that came from Catholicism (Lutheran, Anglican, Puritan)
A number of modern denominations including some Baptists and others.
Christians who do not hold to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1. (Christian evolutionists)
Christians who question the assumptions.
Around the late second century, some church leaders started discussing the idea of original sin.
Irenaus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, Tertullian, Augustine
Augustine was the first one credited to offer a detailed doctrine of Original Sin.
Upon sinning, Adam and Eve's nature were completely changed. This nature was one of sin and guilt.
Through reproduction, that nature is imparted to the offspring of Adam and Eve. Therefore, all of humanity is born sinful, guilty, and eternally damned from the moment of birth.
The very act of procreation resulted in the transfer of sin and guilt to offspring.
This is why Jesus was born sinless, because he was not naturally conceived.
As a result of this fact, Augustine held the view of infant baptism for the remission of sins.
Gnosticism: Influences on Clement and Origen.
“gnostikos" meaning the ability to know
Origin of ideology is not well known, but occurred sometime around the first century.
Essentially, humanity is limited by the physical world. Their body is wicked, evil, and holds them back from reaching their full potential.
The spirit is good and man must transcend the physical world and fully embrace his spirit.
The ramifications of this were that Jesus could not have truly been man in flesh because flesh is evil.
Gnosticism was a large movement in Egypt and could have very easily krept its way into churches.
