Expert: Phillip - 3/29/2004

Question
Hello!!  We are bible study leaders and wanted to do a study on the seven deadly sins and the seven heavenly virtues.  Do they come form the Bible?  Are they Catholic based or are the universal?  If they do come from the Bible where are they?

Thanks so much for your help!!
Blessings
Casey and Holly and Steve

Answer
<<Hello!! We are bible study leaders and wanted to do a study on the seven deadly sins and the seven heavenly virtues. Do they come form the Bible?  Are they Catholic based or are the universal?>>

Each of these sins is denoted as a sin in the Bible.  The idea of grouping them together in a list and denoting them as "deadly" came about in the Middle Ages.  There were some minor variations in this list until the Catholics codified it.

<<If they do come from the Bible where are they???>>

Pride  

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Avarice/Greed

Exodus 20:17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Envy

Job 5:2  For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

Romans 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Wrath/Anger

Matthew 5:22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Lust

Matthew 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Gluttony

1 Corinthians 15:32  ..., what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Proverbs 23:1  ¶When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2  And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3  Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Sloth

Matthew 25:26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

I hope this helps.

Phillip