The Bible's Sins: A Comprehensive Count And Analysis

The Bible contains a plethora of sins, with 613 laws in the Torah (Books of Moses), 365 of which are thou shalt nots. While the famous 7 deadly sins are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, they are a compilation by Pope Gregory I in 600 A.D. These include lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, wrath, envy, and pride. The Bible also contains the Ten Commandments, which are a summary of God's laws, and various other lists of sins, such as the 124 sins listed in the New Testament. The Bible makes it clear that all wrongdoing is sin and that anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

The Ten Commandments

• You shall have no other gods before Me.
• You shall not make idols.
• You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• Honour your father and your mother.
• You shall not murder.
• You shall not commit adultery.
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
• You shall not covet.

The Seven Deadly Sins

The Bible contains many lists of sins, but the most well-known grouping is the Seven Deadly Sins: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. These are considered particularly severe transgressions in Christian theology and tradition, and are thought to lead to spiritual death and damnation if not repented.

The concept of the Seven Deadly Sins has its roots in early Christian asceticism, with monks and theologians contemplating the nature of sin and its impact on the soul. The idea gained prominence in the 4th century with Evagrius Ponticus, who listed eight "evil thoughts", which were later revised to seven by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century.

Lust

Lust is inappropriate or excessive sexual desire. The Bible cautions against lustful behaviour, emphasising self-control, purity, and avoiding behaviours that lead to temptation.

Gluttony

Gluttony is the overindulgence or overconsumption of food or drink, often to the detriment of one's health. The Bible contains several verses that caution against overindulgence, encouraging moderation and self-control.

Greed

Greed is an obsessive desire for material wealth or possessions, often at the expense of ethical considerations. It is generally seen as a form of idolatry, where the pursuit of wealth takes precedence over devotion to God.

Sloth

Sloth refers to spiritual or moral laziness, neglecting responsibilities and failing to use one's God-given talents effectively. It involves a lack of motivation or enthusiasm for fulfilling duties, both spiritual and practical.

Wrath

Wrath is uncontrolled, intense, and vengeful anger or hatred. It is considered sinful when it is directed against an innocent person, when it is excessive or prolonged, or when it desires excessive punishment.

Envy

Envy is feeling resentful or discontent towards the good fortune, success, or possessions of others. The Bible emphasises the importance of contentment, love, and avoiding coveting what belongs to others.

Pride

Pride is an excessive belief in one's abilities or qualities and is often considered the root of all other sins. It involves an inflated sense of self-importance and a failure to acknowledge one's dependence on God.

Sins in the New Testament

The New Testament of the Bible contains a long list of sins that are considered serious wrongdoings. These sins are referenced and described throughout the New Testament and include everything from murder and theft to gossiping and even questioning God's authority.

The Bible is often open to interpretation, and it is debated whether these sins are still punishable by God today. However, these biblical "sins" help us understand what behaviours are deemed unacceptable by God and shape our understanding of right and wrong.

• Self-abuse, including unnatural lusts, overindulging in food and drink, and neglecting one's physical or emotional needs.
• Abusing others through malicious speech, manipulation, coercion, or exploitation of power.
• Adultery, or sexual relations outside of marriage.
• Anger, wrath, and rage, which are rooted in a lack of control and can lead to other destructive actions.
• Backbiting or speaking ill of others behind their backs, often stemming from envy and malice.
• Gossip or speaking about others' personal or private details without their consent.
• Greed, envy, pride, and wrath, which are considered part of the seven deadly sins.
• Blasphemy, or speech and actions that disrespect or insult God, his teachings, or anything sacred.
• Boasting, or bragging about one's accomplishments or possessions, leading to resentment, envy, and dishonesty.
• Bitterness, a feeling of resentment that can manifest as anger, irritability, cynicism, and an unwillingness to forgive.
• Calling one's brother a fool, which falls under the category of disrespecting one's neighbour.
• Complaining, which can take the form of murmuring about annoyances or focusing on problems in a negative way.
• Covetousness, or an intense longing for material possessions, leading to greed and a disregard for others.
• Desiring the praise of men, doing things to gain the admiration of others rather than for God.
• Disobedience to parents, failing to honour and respect one's mother and father.
• Giving false witness, or lying and bearing false testimony.

Sins in the Sermon on the Mount

There are a lot of sins mentioned in the Bible, and the exact number is difficult to pinpoint as it depends on interpretation and translation. A rough estimate suggests that there may be around 600 sins addressed directly across the Old and New Testaments, with a further thousand or so implied.

Now, let's focus on the sins discussed in the Sermon on the Mount, which is one of Jesus' most well-known teachings and is found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. This sermon is often seen as a blueprint for Christian ethical living and includes a number of commands and instructions from Jesus that relate to sin.

Jesus begins the sermon with the Beatitudes, a series of blessings that describe the characteristics of those who are part of God's kingdom. These include the meek, the merciful, and the pure in heart, indicating that pride, a lack of mercy, and impure thoughts are all sins to be avoided. Jesus also states that those who are persecuted for their righteousness are blessed, implying that giving in to persecution and compromising one's faith is a sin.

The sermon then moves into a discussion of Jesus' role in fulfilling the law. He states that he has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, and that until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the Law. This means that the commandments and laws in the Old Testament are still very much relevant and are to be followed. Jesus then goes on to discuss a number of specific sins and how they are to be understood and avoided.

One of the key themes in the Sermon on the Mount is anger and murder. Jesus states that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be liable to judgment, and that calling someone a fool or insulting them is tantamount to murder. This is a very high standard and indicates that even our thoughts and emotions can be sinful if not kept in check. Jesus also addresses lust, adultery, and divorce, stating that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. This is a strong warning against objectifying others and treating them as a means to satisfy one's desires.

Another key theme in the sermon is oaths and truthfulness. Jesus teaches that we should simply let our 'yes' be yes and our 'no' be no, without needing to swear by heaven or earth or anything else. This is because swearing oaths can be a way of trying to manipulate or impress others, and it also suggests that we cannot be trusted to tell the truth unless we invoke something greater than ourselves.

Sins in the Torah

The Torah, or the Books of Moses, contains 613 laws, 365 of which are categorized as "thou shalt not...". While there is no clear biblical source for the concept of the "Seven Deadly Sins", it is believed that the number seven plays a significant role in the Bible, and the idea of "seven sins" is thought to originate from Mishle 6:16.

The Torah outlines a wide range of sins, including false worship, idolatry, misusing God's name, violating the Sabbath, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting. These sins are mentioned in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and are further elaborated upon in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

In traditional Jewish literature, the concept of the "Seven Deadly Sins" is also recognized, although with a slightly different formulation. According to the GR"A's commentary on the Agada in Berachot (4b), the Angel of Death flies in eight steps, each associated with a cause of death. One of these is the sin of Adam, and the other seven are considered the main transgressions that lead to all other sins:

• תאוה (Desire): This can be interpreted as gluttony or lust, referring to the desire for gratification or illicit sexual desire, respectively.
• קנאה (Envy): Resenting or feeling discontent towards others' possessions or success.
• גאוה (Pride): An excessive belief in one's abilities or qualities, often considered the root of all other sins.
• כבוד (Honor): This is associated with pride and can involve an inflated sense of self-importance.
• כילות (Stinginess): Also referred to as a "bad eye," this sin involves greed or an obsessive desire for material wealth.
• זנות (Illicit Sexual Desire): This sin is considered a Yetzer Hara, or evil inclination.
• שנאת הבריות (Hatred of Others): This sin involves harboring negative feelings or acting destructively towards others.
• בטלה (Sloth): Spiritual or moral laziness, a passive sin associated with femininity, involving neglecting responsibilities and failing to use one's talents effectively.

These sins, along with the broader list of 613 laws in the Torah, provide a framework for moral and spiritual reflection, guiding believers to avoid behaviors that could damage their souls and their relationship with God.

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