The Fundamentals - 1917: Vol.3

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The Fundamentals (paraptoma), 15 times, literally a falling, lapse, deviation from truth and uprightness (Thayer), translated “trespass” in R.V. 5. ’ASoaa (adikia), 12 times, unrighteousness. 6 . 'Ao-e/Jeta, (asebeia), four times, ungodliness, lack of reverence for God. 7. ’A vo/ua (anomia), lawlessness, six times. 8 . ‘AicaOapaia (akatharsia), nine times, uncleanness, lack of purity. 9. HapaKorj (parakoee), twice, disobedience. 10. HA dvr) (planee), four times, wandering, error. . Besides these general terms for sin Paul uses many specific terms for various sins, 21 of these being found in the category of Rom. 1 :29-31. Twenty-one equals three times seven and seems to express the idea of completeness in sin reached by the Gentiles. It is literally true that Paul uses scores of terms denoting and describing various personal sins, sensual, social, ethical, and religious. Is this not an unmistakable lex­ ical evidence that the Apostle to the Gentiles believed in sin as a fact in human history? Again, in all Paul’s leading epistles he deals with sin in the abstract or with sins in the concrete. In Romans 1 :18- 3:20, he discusses the failure of both Jews and Gentiles to attain righteousness. These chapters constitute the most graphic and comprehensive description of sin found in Bib­ lical, Greek, Roman, or any, literature. It is so true to the facts in heathen life today that modern heathen often ac­ cuse Christian missionaries of writing it after they have had personal knowledge of their life and conduct. In 1 Corinthians, gross sins are dealt with—envy, strife, divisions, incest, litigation, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, covetousness, idolatry, etc. In 2 Corinthians, some of the same sins are condemned. In Galatians, he implies the failure of man to attain righteousness in maintaining the thesis that no man is justified by the deeds of the law, but any man may be justified by simple faith in Christ Jesus (2:14ff), and mentions the works of the flesh, “fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,” etc. (5:19). In Ephesians, he

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