Words of “Sin” in the New Testament

Romans 5:12–21

Excerpt

The principal NT term is hamartia (and cognates), which is equivalent to ḥṭ’. In classical Gk. it is used for missing a target or taking a wrong road. It is the general NT term for sin as concrete wrongdoing, the violation of God’s law (Jn. 8:46; Jas. 1:15; 1 Jn. 1:8). In Rom. 5–8Paul personifies the term as a ruling principle in human life (cf. 5:12; 6:12, 14; 7:17, 20; 8:2). Paraptōma occurs in classical contexts for an error in measurement or a blunder. The NT gives it a stronger moral connotation as misdeed or trespass (cf. ‘dead through … ’, Eph. 2:1; Mt. 6:14f.). Parabasis is a similarly derived term with similar meaning, ‘transgression,' ‘going beyond the norm’ (Rom. 4:15; Heb. 2:2). asebeia is perhaps the most profound NT term and commonly translates pš‘ in the lxx. It implies active ungodliness or impiety (Rom. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:16). Another term is anomia, lawlessness, a contempt for the law (Mt. 7:23; 2 Cor. 6:14). kakia and ponēria are general terms expressing moral and spiritual depravity (Acts 8:22; Rom. 1:29; Lk. 11:39; Eph. 6:12). The last of these references indicates the association of the latter term with Satan, the evil one, ho ponēros (Mt. 13:19; 1 Jn. 3:12). adikia is the main classical term for the wrong done to one’s neighbor. It is translated variously as ‘injustice’ (Rom. 9:14), ‘unrighteousness’ (Lk. 18:6), ‘falsehood’ (Jn. 7:18), ‘wickedness’ (Rom. 2:8), ‘iniquity’ (2 Tim. 2:19). 1 Jn. equates it with hamartia (1 Jn. 3:4; 5:17). Also occurring are enochos, a legal term meaning ‘guilty’ (Mk. 3:29; 1 Cor. 11:27), and opheilēma, ‘debt’ (Mt. 6:12). More

Milne, B. A. with J.M. “Sin.” Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible dictionary 1996: 1105. Print.