Is Sin a Noun or a Verb?

GospelCompilation · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject: Is Sin a Noun or a Verb?

I've heard a lot of talk on the forums regarding sin. And it sounds to me like most people consider sin to be a noun, a thing that has actual physical substance, like a disease that can infect us.

But I've always understood the word "sin" to be a verb, an action, something that humans do.

What do you think? Is "sin" a noun or a verb?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

james · Grizzly Bear Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 727

For some reason Romans 14:23 comes to mind "......for what ever is not of faith is sin." Thus I agree in that it is a verb.

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1194 Location: US

A verb.... definitely a verb, I think.

Regardless of how you define sin, it requires action.

If not having faith is a sin then you make a conscious decision to either avoid learning the truth or to deny what you have been taught. You are making a conscious effort to not learn more or to avoid Gods word or argue against it and not entertain the possibility that God exists.

If sinning is conducting your life in a way that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus (Ergo his Father), that requires action as well and so yes, sin is a verb.

Luv
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JB · Grizzly Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 730

Maybe this will help.

Sin (Noun or Verb)

As a Nouns the Greek words are:

1. hamartia
2. hamartema

As an adjective the Greek word is:

1. anamartetos

As a verb the words are:

1. hamartano
2. proamartano

I can be both in the scriptures and is actually used as both in different texts.

JB

GospelCompilation · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:57 am Post subject: Explain, Please

Thank you, JB, for demonstrating from the Greek that "sin" can be both a noun and a verb.

But, can you help clarify further, since the word translated as "sin" literally means to "miss the mark."

We seem to understand how "missing the mark" can be defined as a verb (an action), but how can "missing the mark" be defined as a noun (as a thing)?

Thank you in advance, my friend.

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6886 Location: USA

I agree with JB here.

Sin, depending upon use, can be a noun or a verb.

I wonder how we would designate, as a part of speech, a state of being. Would that be an adjective?

Since 'natural' man is in a state of sin, is sin a descriptive of man's nature?
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JB · Grizzly Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 730

GospelCompilation,

I thought that I would address this in two parts.

Part 1

Examples:

Sin (Noun)
ἁμαρτία hamartia

...ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν.

Matthew 1:21 Noun (Genetive plural feminine).

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν, αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν.

ἁμαρτωλός hamartōlos Adjective
ἀναμάρτητος hanamartētos Adjective

Matthew 9:10 Adjective (Nomnitative plural masculine)

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτοῦ ἀνακειμένου ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, καὶ ἰδοὺ πολλοὶ τελῶναι καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐλθόντες συνανέκειντο τῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ·

προαμαρτάνω proamartanō Verb

Matthew 18:15 (Verb) Third person aorist active subjunctive singular

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

ἐὰν δὲ ἁμαρτήσῃ [εἰς σὲ] ὁ ἀδελφός σου, ὕπαγε ἔλεγξον αὐτὸν μεταξὺ σοῦ καὶ αὐτοῦ μόνου. ἐάν σου ἀκούσῃ, ἐκέρδησας τὸν ἀδελφόν σου·

JB · Grizzly Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 730

GospelCompilation,

Sin in the noun form, becomes the topic or one of the topics of the sentence. Instead of sinning, I am talking about sinning, sin or sinned. So instead of falling short I am talking about falling short.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins

Sin becomes the subject.

If you need more or I missed the question feel free to ask.

JB

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1194 Location: US

So in looking at the examples cited, a sin can be a noun, adjective or verb.

someone can be a sinner

we can refer to something as sinful or sinfully _____

or we could be referring to the act of sinning.

Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints

JB · Grizzly Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 730

luvnlife,

Well done.

JB

GospelCompilation · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: How Do We Make The Leap in Logic?

Thank you, JB. I've looked carefully at each of the Greek words involved, and they are all from the same root, which means literally, to "miss the mark."

As you know, it comes from the ancient idea of an archer, aiming at the target (or mark, or bullseye), misses the mark; that is, he shot the arrow but missed the target.

Yet, most Christians today believe that "sin" is a "thing" that infects them, like a disease. And yet, the word means "missing the mark." If the writers of the New Testament wanted us to view sin as a "thing" that can infect us and cause us to do bad things (aka, "miss the mark"), then surely they knew words that would communicated such an idea.

Can you offer any assistance in this area? Thank you in advance.

ragman13 · German Shepherd Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 325

Maybe this will help, if I am understanding the question.

Romans 5:12a Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world

ἡ ἁμαρτία Notice the article "ἡ" meaning "the." so it can be translated the sin. this instance seems to represent a thing. the morphology of the word is:

NNSF

JB · Grizzly Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 730

GospelCompilation,

You said:

Yet, most Christians today believe that "sin" is a "thing" that infects them, like a disease. And yet, the word means "missing the mark." If the writers of the New Testament wanted us to view sin as a "thing" that can infect us and cause us to do bad things (aka, "miss the mark"), then surely they knew words that would communicated such an idea.

I would like to begin by responding to the idea that sin is a thing that infects. I personally do not agree with that idea. I lean more towards the idea that sin is the result of a problem.

If you were to do a study on the word repentance (mentanoia)in the New Testament, you would find that it means to change your mind. Most people interpret repentance as to turn from sin. That just isn't Biblical.

For example: If you had a cold, one of the symptoms might be a runny nose. That runny nose isn't a cold but is a symptom of that cold. Since I take this position I have to believe that sin is a symptom and not the problem. I make this statement very carefully. Because sin is a problem. But as in my illustration, sin isn't the cause.

In the Old Testament, the meaning of repentance was to turn. We read in many Old Testament Texts where God Himself repented. He turned away from the Nation of Israel. In other cases He turned towards the Nation of Israel. When one person in the camp sinned often times the whole Israelite Community repented or turned to God.

We know that God isn't a sinner so the idea of sin isn't necessarily the issue. If we take a closer look at this idea we find ourselves attempting to reconcile two ideas.

the first idea is change of mind and the second is to turn. If the meaning of to turn is turning from sin then the idea of change of mind doesn't fit. But if we interpret to turn as moving towards God then the idea of changing your mind does fit.

The Disciples said, Repent and believe the Gospel. Since metonia means change your mind that idea would seem to suggest that we in the salvation event must change our minds about Christ and that change must include turning towards Him. In every instance in the New Testament, I found that repentance was used in terms of salvation but I haven;'t found its usage in turning from sin. If you can find a text I would appreciate you sharing that with me.

Sin separated Adam and Eve from God and that same separation is experienced by us.

The cause is not being in fellowship with God.
not sin.

When God reveals Himself to you in the salvation experience He does several things but the two that are important to this idea are, God grants you the faith to believe and God gives you repentance or change of mind. neither one of these actions come from you but are GIVEN BY GOD TO YOU.

Before you are saved your life is bent towards sin and after you are saved your life is bent towards Christ.

Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Here is a perfect example of repentance and its association with salvation.

Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Again notice repentance is used in the salvation response.

Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that God gives faith. Why does He do this ? Because He knows that we need to change our mind which He does for us and we need to turn to Him in intimate fellowship which He causes at salvation and as a result the effects of sin begin to dissipate.

Sin is a runny nose.
The cold is being apart from God.

I hope that this helped.

JB

GospelCompilation · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:00 am Post subject: Positively Beautiful

Thank you, JB. That was positively beautiful.

I, too, have found the same things you've found in God's Word. And it all seems to point to our relationship with God. That is how we focus on the positive, by focusing on our relationship with God. And I think that's what God wants us to focus on, is the positive.

But there is another camp of believers who point to our sin - that is, what they believe to be a disease that ravages our carnal flesh and makes us to bad things. And they seem to view sin as the problem, instead of an impaired relationship with God. That, in my opinion, is how we focus on the negative. And I'm not convinced that God wants us to focus on the negative.

So, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

JB · Grizzly Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 730

GospelCompilation,

Those who focus on sin will have no time to focus on God. If you walk in the Light of His Word, you will experience victory.

JB