Protestant definition of deadly sin

[momstheword]

Has anyone heard of the “deadly sin” referred to in (I think) 1 Jn as being a sin that leads to physical death?
I know it to be mortal sin as the church teaches it, but this was thrown at me and I was in dis-belief. I was told that this is a sin like drug addiction, which will lead us prematurely to death on earth.
This is a new one for me.

 

[Image_of_God]

Has anyone heard of the “deadly sin” referred to in (I think) 1 Jn as being a sin that leads to physical death?
I know it to be mortal sin as the church teaches it, but this was thrown at me and I was in dis-belief. I was told that this is a sin like drug addiction, which will lead us prematurely to death on earth.
This is a new one for me.

It is not a drug addiciton. Looking around the verse shows it to be more spiritual than physical.

 

[Mystophilus]

Has anyone heard of the “deadly sin” referred to in (I think) 1 Jn as being a sin that leads to physical death?
I know it to be mortal sin as the church teaches it, but this was thrown at me and I was in dis-belief. I was told that this is a sin like drug addiction, which will lead us prematurely to death on earth.
This is a new one for me.

The Protestant tendency to regard the Bible as the source of all authority leads Protestants to use passages to illuminate or explain each other. Thus, John’s reference to “sin leading to death” in 1 John 5:16 is most commonly matched with Jesus’ statement in Matthew 12:31-2, Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10, that “blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven”. This match is made on the basis that a sin which is not forgiven must lead to death.

The next question regards what actually constitutes ‘blasphemy against the Spirit’. For that, the context of Jesus’ comment, in which the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of driving out demons “by Beelzeboul, ruler of the demons” (Mt 12:24), is often used: the Pharisees are then described as ‘blaspheming against the Spirit’ by ascribing God’s works to the power of the Devil. By asserting this when they could not know it to be true, they were breaking the ninth of the Ten Commandments by presenting false testimony against another: in this case, God.

(This bit gets technical.)
Having said all of this, the strength of that link between 1 John 5:16 and Matthew 12:31-2 et al. depends upon reading John’s comment as a reference to only one sin. The Greek, however, does not do that explicitly: John says, “εστιν αμαρτια προς θανατον” (‘there is sin towards death’). No article (‘the’) or number (‘a’/‘one’) is used for αμαρτια, ‘sin’, here. While no article is need, and it could mean only one sin, it could also be a collective term, referring to a whole category of sin. John similarly uses αμαρτια in a collective, categorical sense, without an article or number, in 1:8 and 3:9. Thus, it is quite possible that John was thinking of an idea somewhat similar to the concept of ‘mortal sin’ as defined by later theologians, and was not necessarily referring to ‘blasphemy against the Spirit’ at all.

(Did that clarify things, or just muddy them up more?)

 

[Jennifer_G]

I’ve never heard of it except in a Catholic reference. I decided to search at our Lutheran synod (ELCA), and there’s only one passing reference to the term.

As an interesting note, searching “Catholic” brings up the Lutheran-Catholic dialogues.

 

[MariaG]

I’ve never heard of it except in a Catholic reference. I decided to search at our Lutheran synod (ELCA), and there’s only one passing reference to the term.

As an interesting note, searching “Catholic” brings up the Lutheran-Catholic dialogues.

Yet it is right there in scripture

Revised Standard Version
1John 5:16
16] If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.

Douay-Rheims Bible
16 He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask, and life shall be given to him, who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death: for that I say not that any man ask.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,
I believe those passages to mean that the only sin leading to death would be to flat out deny Christ the Holy Spirit and God. I dont know it just seems that simple to me. Im sure there is more to it but I like to keep things simple.Im blonde you know

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Here are three or four examples of people dropping dead due to sin unto death.

Acts 5
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

1 Corinthians 5:5
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2 Samuel 6:7
The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

I cor 11
29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

 

[Liberian]

Folks,

When I was a member of the Southern Baptist Church we had the doctrine of the “sin unto death” that was based on the verse from I John. The idea was that if somebody was sinning badly enough that he would lose his salvation over it, God would “bring him home” before he had a chance to take the final step to damnation. It had nothing to do with temporal consequences of sin such as drug addiction.

• Liberian

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

I John 5

12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

**16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. **

18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Hebrews 12

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because** the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”**

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

 

[Sabda]

Has anyone heard of the “deadly sin” referred to in (I think) 1 Jn as being a sin that leads to physical death?
I know it to be mortal sin as the church teaches it, but this was thrown at me and I was in dis-belief. I was told that this is a sin like drug addiction, which will lead us prematurely to death on earth.
This is a new one for me.

LOL, I also had this one thrown at me a few months back. I kept pointing out to them that we ALL die, regardless of what sin we have committed. That definition that it’s only “serious” sins like drug addiction make no sense, when we ALL die a physical death. :whacky: She kept sticking to her guns so I just dropped it.

 

[Catherine_S]

Hi,
I believe those passages to mean that the only sin leading to death would be to flat out deny Christ the Holy Spirit and God. I dont know it just seems that simple to me. Im sure there is more to it but I like to keep things simple.Im blonde you know