Article 9. Of Original, or Birth-sin
Article 9. Of Original, or Birth-sin
The first fifteen Articles of the Church of England as revised by the Westminster Assembly, with their Scripture proofs, compared with the 1638 text; free PDF
Struck through: what the Assembly removed or changed. Underlined: what it added or put in its place.
Church of England (1638 edition)
ORiginall sinne standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk) but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam, whereby man is very farre gone from originall righteousnesse, and is of his own nature enclined to evill, so that the flesh lusteth alwayes contrary to the spirit, and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth Gods wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek φρόνημα σαρκός, which some do expound the wisdome, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh, is not subject to the law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that beleeve and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confesse, that concupiscence and lust, hath of it self the nature of sinne.
The Assembly’s revision (1647)
Original sina standeth not in the following of Adam, as the Pelagians do vainly talkb. But, together with his first sin imputedc, it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is propagated from Adam; whereby man is wholly deprived of Original righteousnessed, and is of his own nature inclined onely to evile. So that the lust of the flesh, called in Greek φρόνημα σαρκός, which some do expound the Wisdom, some Sensuality, some the Affection, some the Desire of the flesh, is not subject to the Law of Godf, and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth Gods wrath and damnationg. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerateh, whereby the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spiriti. And although there is no condemnation for them that are regenerate and do believek; yet the Apostle doth confesse that concupiscence and lust is truely and properly sinl.
Scripture proofs of the 1647 print
- a. Psalms 51:5; John 3:5,6.
- b. Job 14:4; Job 15:14; Romans 6:6; John 3:3,5,7.
- c. Romans 5:12-19; Genesis 2:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22.
- d. Colossians 2:13; Romans 7:18; Ecclesiastes 7:29.
- e. Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:8; James 1:14.
- f. Romans 8:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Col. 1.27..
- g. Ephesians 2:3; Romans 8:6.
- h. Proverbs 20:9; Rom. 7.17, 20, 23, 25.4..
- i. Galatians 5:17.
- k. Romans 8:1,13; John 3:18.
- l. Romans 7:17,20.