What Is Sin?
Sin is the Bible's encompassing term for deviation from God's will. The vocabulary is rich: 'missing the mark', 'straying from the way', 'rebelling', 'being in debt'. This variety shows that sin is not merely rule-breaking but the breaking of a relationship. The garden narrative in Genesis pictures sin entering through distrust and producing shame, blame and separation. The prophets treat sin in both its personal and social dimensions: injustice is sin as much as idolatry. In the New Testament Paul universalizes the condition — 'all have sinned' — and defines sin not only as individual acts but as a power that enslaves; 'the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' The Bible names sin with full seriousness but does not give it the last word: forgiveness is promised to the one who confesses, freedom to the captive. For this reason the concept of sin is always read in Scripture together with the news of salvation.