How have Reformed Traditions historically understood Original Sin?

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll look at how various Reformed traditions historically understood the doctrine of original sin according to confessions and statements. We've already written about this topic from our perspective of ancestral sin. To better understand our perspective, read our article making a biblical case for ancestral sin here. We've also covered the early Anabaptist perspective in our article here. 

Is Infant Baptism the new Infant Circumcision?

Hello and welcome. In this article, we will look at New Testament baptism as it relates to Old Testament circumcision and the argument for continuity between these two practices regarding infants. We will examine the supposed strength, clarity, and validity of the inference to connect these two practices. Before reading this article, we recommend you read our introduction to baptismal theology article here. 

Intro to Baptismal Theology: The Recipients of Baptism

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll briefly summarize the issues surrounding the topic of who the proper recipients of baptism are. This introductory article will help set the stage for future articles on this topic. 

A Soteriological Analysis of "Overcome" in Revelation

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll be examining verses in Revelation that speak about overcoming and unpacking their meaning to identify the soteriological implications and application of these verses. 

Soul Creationism in Early Christianity

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll study the historicity of soul creationism in the first centuries of Christian history. This doctrine relates to the question of the human soul's origin. To get a complete picture and fully grasp this doctrine, the issues surrounding it, and why we affirm it please read this article here first where we provide a comprehensive biblical analysis of the soul's origin. 

Is Ancestral Sin a Pelagian Doctrine?

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll examine the objection of ancestral sin being a pelagian/semi-pelagian doctrine. We will unpack the historical sources detailing the condemnation of Pelagianism and the historical doctrinal development of infant salvation across multiple theological traditions. To fully grasp the doctrine of ancestral sin and its historicity, check out our article defending ancestral sin biblically and our articles detailing its articulation in early Christianity and the early Anabaptists.

Does Ancestral Sin Undermine the Gospel?

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll answer questions related to an objection and/or question related to ancestral sin, a doctrine we affirm, regarding whether it undermines the gospel. In addition, we will give reasons why we believe ancestral sin actually magnifies and helps clarify the gospel. To get a good understanding of ancestral sin, read this article first where we make a biblical case for the doctrine. 

Interpretations of Ephesians 2:1-3 in Early Christianity

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll look at interpretations of Ephesians 2:1-3 in early Christianity. This article supplements and provides additional evidence supporting our article that covers ancestral sin in early Christianity. We recommend you read that article before this. Additionally, we've written an article here going over the passage and critiquing the original sin interpretation of Ephesians 2:1-3 from a biblical perspective.

Do Humans have a Sinful Nature or Sinful Inclinations?

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll examine various terminologies used to describe humans' relationship with sin from birth. In this examination, we will look at the Biblical data, the semantic domain of words, and early Christian history to formulate what we believe to be the most accurate, helpful, and precise terminology for the human relationship to sin from birth. 

Examining Federal Headship and Imputed Adamic Guilt

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll examine federal headship as a potential mechanism for Adam's guilt being transmitted to all of his descendants. This idea is distinctive of the original sin view concerning the fall and its consequences. This is a view we do not affirm. Contrary to original sin, we affirm ancestral sin. To get a full grasp of this doctrine, please read our article making the affirmative case for ancestral sin. Some of our points made in that article will be restated here. The doctrine of federal headship is almost completely tied to a faulty understanding of Romans 5 from the original sin perspective. To get a comprehensive understanding of Romans 5, read our article on it here. 

Does Mortality prove Inherited Adamic Guilt?

Hello and welcome. As it relates to inherited Adamic guilt, the question of mortality pertains to the issue of original sin versus ancestral sin, the consequences of the fall, and the spiritual condition of infants from conception. Contrary to original sin, we affirm ancestral sin. To get a full grasp of this doctrine, please read our article making the affirmative case for ancestral sin.

A Comprehensive Biblical Analysis of the Soul's Origin

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll analyze the human soul's origin according to scripture and its theological implications. The question of the soul's origin is closely connected to the issues of the fall's consequences, original sin, and the transmission of guilt. Contrary to original sin, we affirm what's called ancestral sin. To read more about ancestral sin, read our article here making a biblical case for the doctrine. 

Where Does Human Sin Originate?

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll look at where sin ultimately originates for humans. Does it arise in our spiritual soul, external influences, or in our flesh? This question is related to the issues of human anthropology, the debate between Creationism versus Traducianism, the consequences of the fall, and theodicy. 

Interpretations of Romans 5 in Early Christianity

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll look at interpretations of Romans 5 in early Christianity. This article supplements and provides additional evidence supporting our article that covers ancestral sin in early Christianity. Additionally, this article follows the pattern of thought that we put forth in our article examining Romans 5 and original sin. We recommend you read that article before this. 

A Comprehensive Analysis of Romans 5 and Original Sin

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll analyze Romans 5 as it pertains to the fall and its consequences for humanity. More precisely, whether or not Romans 5 demonstrates that one of the consequences of the fall is that from conception all humans receive the guilt of Adam's personal sin that he committed in the garden. This potential consequence is one of the distinctions of the original sin perspective of the fall. If there's any passage of scripture that is most central to the doctrine of original sin, it's certainly Romans 5. Our aim here is to provide an in-depth analysis of the chapter and critique the original sin interpretation of the passage.

The Historic Connection between Original Sin and Infant Damnation

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll be covering how affirmers of original sin's distinctions (inherited/imputed Adamic guilt) have historically viewed damnation as the default fate of infants. We'll be showing how these two doctrines have been intimately linked throughout history. We've previously addressed the question of whether inherited guilt entails infant damnation in this article. In that article, we concluded that the answer to the question is "yes". 

Ancestral Sin in the Early Anabaptists

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll be looking at the historicity of ancestral sin beginning in the Reformation of the 16th century from early Anabaptists. To get a complete picture and fully grasp this doctrine and why we affirm it, start here with our article on ancestral sin. We highly recommend that you read that first to be grounded in the sure foundation of Scripture. Additionally, we recommend that you read our article on ancestral sin in early Christianity. That article shows the historicity of ancestral sin in the earliest centuries of Christianity. To begin, let's first define ancestral sin and highlight its distinctions between alternative views concerning the fall and its consequences. 

Analyzing Historical Prooftexts for Original Sin

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll be examining early Christian prooftexts given in historical support for the doctrine of original sin. The purpose here won't be to track the historical development of the doctrine. Instead, we'll be focused on prooftexts that we actually don't believe are best interpreted as promoting and confirming the distinctions of original sin. The view we hold concerning the fall and its consequences is called ancestral sin. To get a complete picture and fully grasp this doctrine and why we affirm it, start here with our article on ancestral sin. We highly recommend that you read that article first to be grounded in the sure foundation of Scripture. Additionally, we recommend you look over our article highlighting articulations of ancestral sin in early Christianity. 

Ancestral Sin in Early Christianity

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll study the historicity of ancestral sin in the first centuries of Christian history. To get a complete picture and fully grasp this doctrine and why we affirm it, view our article on ancestral sin. We highly recommend that you read that article first to be grounded in the sure foundation of Scripture. 

A Comprehensive Analysis of Original Sin Prooftexts

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we'll be analyzing prooftexts and arguments in favor of original sin. 

Disclaimer: (This article is an ongoing project. It will be updated with more analysis regularly)

Does Inherited Adamic Guilt logically entail Infant Damnation?

 

Previously, we've made our case for ancestral sin and our view that the guilt of Adam's sin isn't inherited/imputed to the souls of all humans from conception. (See our article on ancestral sin here.) In this article, we'll talk about the logical implications of affirming inherited/imputed guilt which is the primary distinction of the original sin perspective. 

A Comprehensive Biblical Case for Ancestral Sin

 

Hello and welcome. In this article, we're going to be diving into the Garden of Eden, what happened in the garden, and what that means for us today thousands of years after the fact. We will make a case for our beliefs and perspectives on this issue. Before we get into the weeds, let's set the stage and identify the main views of this issue.  

The Ordo Salutis: What is adoption and when does it happen?

 

In the Reformed Christian tradition, there is a lot of theology surrounding the Ordo Salutis (the order of salvation.) Does regeneration come before faith or after faith? Are we elect before or after conversion? Does calling come before or after election? These are some soteriological questions they try to answer about the sequence of events in human salvation with their system of theology and their particular Ordo Salutis. 

In this article, we are going to be digging into adoption. What do the Reformed Calvinists believe adoption is? When do they think it happens? And above all, what does Scripture actually tell us about the topic?