Are There "Seven Deadly Sins"?

The Bible's answer

The Bible does not specifically describe a set of "seven deadly sins."  However, it does teach that practicing serious sins will prevent a person from gaining salvation.  For example, the Bible refers to such serious sins as sexual immorality, idolatry, spiritism, fits of anger, and drunkenness as "the works of the flesh."  It then  states:  "Those who practice such things will not inherit God's Kingdom." -Galatians 5:19-21. 

Doesn't the Bible list 'seven things that are an abomination unto the Lord'?

Yes, it does. According to the King James Version, Proverbs 6:16 says:  "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him."  However, the list of sins that follows in Proverbs 6:17-19 is not meant to be all-inclusive.  Instead, it describes basic categories that represent all types of wrongful acts, including those in thought,word, and deed.

What is meant by the expression "deadly sin"? 

Some translations use this rendering at 1 John 5:17.  For example< the New American Bible reads:  "There is such a thing as deadly sin."  The expression rendered "deadly sin" can also be translated as "sin that incurs death." What is the difference between "sin that incurs death" and "sin that does  not incur death? -1 John 5:16. 

The Bible makes clear that all sins lead to death. However, we can be saved from sin and death through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  (meaning if we have God in our lives, faith, trust, worship etc., then when the resurrection comes and we make it to the new paradise earth, we are saved from dying anymore.)   (Romans 5:12; 6:23) Thus a "sin that incurs death" is one that is not covered by Christ's ransom. A person who commits this type of  sin is so set on following a sinful course that he will never change his attitude or conduct.  The Bible also refers to such a sin as one that "will not be forgiven. -Matthew 12:31; Luke 12:10. 

Where did the list of seven deadly sins come from?

The "seven deadly sins" were originally based on a list of eight principal vices.  the list was developed in the fourth century C.E. by the mystic Evagrius Ponticus, whose work inspired the writings of monk and ascetic John Cassian. In the sixth century, Pope Gregory I changed Cassian's list of eight vices into the list of seven deadly, or carnal, sins of Roman Catholic  theology: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. Gregory viewed these as capital, or principal, sins in that many other sins came from them. 

Next time: HELP FOR THE FAMILY/MARRIAGE/Dealing With In-Laws

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