AboutBrenda Martin Expertise I love to study and have made a point of finding out all there is to know about Early Christianity,how it was founded, and why,what happened after it was established,where it all went wrong, and why Christianity is struggling today.Having been a protestant I can give you its history, and now being one of Jehovah`s witnesses I can give you its history also.
Experience I have been speaking to people about this for over 30 years so that has given me experience.
Question Hi there. I'm undertaking a writing project, a fictional story about the "true nature" of the seven deadly sins. I won't get too much into detail, but I'm wondering if you could offer a few quick insights into the idea and the sins themselves. First and foremost, do they predate Christ? The ten commandments? Where exactly is their first known "origin"? Are there any pieces of scripture that directly address the sins that I could get ahold of? Are there alternate or lesser known sins or is it just THE BIG 7. Any help you could offer would be much appreciated. Despite having this vast resource at my fingertips, I'm having a hard time getting specific information, especially scripture quotations that address my issue. Thanks in advance!
Answer Traditionally, the seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth.
On a television talk show, young people were invited to express their views of the so-called seven deadly sins. “Pride isn't a sin,” declared one participant. “You're supposed to feel good about yourself.” Regarding sloth, another said: “It's good to be like that sometimes. . . . Sometimes it's good to sit back and give yourself personal time.” Even the narrator provided this succinct comment: ‘The seven deadly sins are not evil acts but, rather, universal human compulsions that can be troubling and highly enjoyable.' Yes, gone along with sin is the feeling of guilt, for, after all, guilt is the very opposite of feeling good.—Ephesians 4:17-19.
In sharp contrast with all of this, the Bible plainly states: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Even the apostle Paul acknowledged: “I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells nothing good; for ability to wish is present with me, but ability to work out what is fine is not present. For the good that I wish I do not do, but the bad that I do not wish is what I practice.” (Romans 7:18, 19) Paul was not here indulging in self-pity. Rather, because he fully realized how far mankind has fallen short of God's glory, he felt all the more painfully sin's grip on the fallen flesh. “Miserable man that I am!” he declared, “who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death?”—Romans 7:24.
Now you asked "
1. DO THEY PREDATE CHRIST?" WHERE EXACTLY IS THEIR FIRST KNOWN "ORIGIN"?
They all predate Christ, Jesus only highlighted what they already knew.
PRIDE--It was Satan (in the garden of Eden) who first allowed an overestimation of self to corrupt his heart. (Compare Ezekiel 28:17; Proverbs 16:5.) Pride is a divisive force in the world of which he is ruler, causing people to consider themselves better than those of other races, nations, language groups, and economic status. Even those serving God may need to root out remnants of such feelings. They also need to be on guard so that pride does not cause them to make major issues of minor matters, or become a barrier to their acknowledging their own faults and accepting counsel and thus benefiting from much loving help that God provides through his organization.—Romans 12:3; 1 Peter 5:5.
COVETOUSNESS--Do not covet what belongs to others Exodus 20:17 (Mosaic law given to the Israelites 1513 b.c.e.) Paul goes on to say after Christ--: “Really I would not have come to know sin if it had not been for the Law; and, for example, I would not have known covetousness if the Law had not said: ‘You must not covet.'” (Romans 7:6, 7; Exodus 20:17)
LUST—"God gave them (people in Noah;s day before the flood 2370 B.C.E. ) up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature; and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error." (Romans 1;26,27)
ENVY--One of the bad inclinations of sinful man is the tendency to envy. (James 4:5) It is an expression of hatred. Because the Philistines envied Isaac's prosperity, they maliciously stopped up the wells upon which he depended for watering his flocks and herds. Finally, their king requested that Isaac leave the area. (Genesis 26:14-16, 27) In the case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, envy of the dignity and honorable position enjoyed by Moses and Aaron caused them to launch a vicious verbal attack. (Numbers 16:1-3; Psalms 106:16-18) The favorable response of the people to Jesus filled the chief priests and many Jewish elders with envy. Their envy reached a climax when they handed the Son of God over to Pilate in order to have the death sentence imposed.—Mtatthew 27:1, 2, 18; Mark 15:10.
Envy is a despicable work of the flesh that stands in the way of one's inheriting God's Kingdom. (Galations 5:19-21) All who persist in it are “deserving of death.” (Romans 1:29, 32) With the help of God's spirit, however, the tendency to envy can be resisted.—Galations 5:16-18, 25, 26; Titus 3:3-5; 1Peter 2:1.
GLUTTONY--A selfish, greedy person given to excessive indulgence, especially voracious eating. Gluttony in any form is diametrically opposed to Bible precepts and principles. Under the Mosaic Law, parents of an incorrigible son who was a glutton and a drunkard were to bring him to the older men of the city, who would have him stoned to death. (Deuteronomy chapter 21: verses 18-21)
Although not listed separately as a ‘work of the flesh,' gluttony often accompanies drunken bouts and revelries, and it is certainly included in the comprehensive expression “things like these,” the practicers of which “will not inherit God's kingdom.” (Galations 5:19, 21) Moderation in eating habits, as in all other activities, is a Christian virtue.—1Timothy 3:2, 11.
ANGER--the anger of man is more often unjustified and is many times uncontrolled. It is often based on insufficient cause and expressed without due regard for the consequences. (Jonah 4:1-11)
The first mention of anger was outside the Garden of Eden--Unjustified and uncontrolled anger has led many persons into greater sin, even acts of violence. “Cain grew hot with great anger” and slew Abel. (Genesis 4:5, 8)
SLOTH--the Bible's advice, both spiritually and physically, holds true: “Sloth brings the sleep that has no awaking.”—Proverbs 19:15, written (1037-998 B.C.E.)
2.ARE THERE ALTERNATE OR LESSER KNOWN SINS
Oh yes many, for instance --"There are six things that God does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers". (Proverbs 6; 16-19)
Definition of the word sin: Literally, a missing of the mark, according to the Hebrew and Greek Bible texts. God himself sets the “mark” that his intelligent creatures are to reach. Missing that mark is sin, which is also unrighteousness, or lawlessness. (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 5:17; 3:4) Sin is anything not in harmony with God's personality, standards, ways, and will, all of which are holy. It may involve wrong conduct, failure to do what should be done, ungodly speech, unclean thoughts, or desires or motives that are selfish. The Bible differentiates between inherited sin and willful sin, between an act of sin over which a person is repentant and the practice of sin.
