Ancestral Sin vs Original Sin
As taught in the Eastern Orthodox tradition
Understanding the Orthodox view of the fall as inherited mortality rather than inherited guilt.
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the question of our human condition—of why we suffer, why we die, and why we find ourselves perpetually inclined toward evil—is not merely a matter of moral failure, but a profound ontological crisis. The central question this subtopic answers is: What exactly did we inherit from Adam? While Western Christendom, following the trajectory of St. Augustine and the later Scholastics and Reformers, developed the doctrine of "Original Sin" (often implying an inheritance of legal guilt), the Orthodox East has consistently maintained the doctrine of "Ancestral Sin" (propatorikon hamartema). This distinction is not a semantic quibble; it is the difference between viewing humanity as a "mass of perdition" born under the wrath of God, or viewing humanity as a beloved but broken creation, born into a state of spiritual sickness and physical mortality.
By the end of this lesson
- **Distinguish** between the Orthodox doctrine of Ancestral Sin and the Western doctrine of Original Sin, particularly regarding the concept of inherited guilt.
- **Explain** the ontological relationship between mortality and sin in Orthodox theology, showing how death is the "sting" that leads to sinful behavior.
- **Articulate** the significance of the Greek phrase *eph ho* in Romans 5:12 and its impact on the divergence between Eastern and Western theological traditions.
- **Trace** the historical development of the doctrine through the Confession of Dositheus and the writings of St. Irenaeus and St. Athanasius.
- **Defend** the Orthodox view that humans are born with a corrupted nature and a propensity to sin, yet remain the "image of God" with a free will that is damaged but not totally destroyed.
- **Compare** the Eastern and Western views on the status of infants and the necessity of baptism in relation to Ancestral Sin.
- **Apply** the doctrine of Ancestral Sin to the practice of theosis, demonstrating how salvation is a process of healing and restoration of the divine likeness.
- **Identify** how the "Last Adam" (Christ) reverses the consequences of the "First Adam" in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Orthodox Church.
Scripture
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