Origin of the 7 deadly sins

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The deadly sins arose in the fourth century, in a list drawn up by the Greek monk Pontic Evagrius (345-399). This monk's objective when creating a list of sins was to survey the main vices that hinder a routine focused on spiritual exercise (ascesis).

Therefore, the seven deadly sins did not appear in the Bible, although they are all closely associated with biblical passages. In a careful reading of the Bible, references to each of the seven sins can be found, but it will not be found in part. some the name “seven sins” or something resembling a list of the most serious vices that keep Christians away from the grace of God.

According to Catholic doctrine, capital sins are the source of all addictions. They are at the origin of all known sinful actions. Currently, the following deadly sins are recognized: superb, a avarice, a envy, a will, a lust, a greediness and the laziness.

But the list of deadly sins has varied over time. The first list, for example, had eight instead of seven sins, one of which is the addiction of sadness, which is no longer on the current lists.

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The original formulation of the monk Evagrio Pontico gained official contours only in the 6th century, when the Pope Gregory I (540-604) wrote his own list. It contained the following sins: envy, anger, greed, gluttony, lust, sadness and boasting.

As can be seen, in Gregory's list the sins are reduced to seven. Two sins that already appeared in the original list remain: sadness and vainglory (vanity). The sin of laziness is excluded and envy is added, which remains to this day. Gregory's list is shorter because he decided to exclude pride, elevating it to the category of “lord” of all sins.

The person responsible for presenting the list we know today is the Catholic friar Aquinas (1225-1274). He reviewed the previous lists and introduced the definitive list of the seven deadly sins:

  1. superb: pride or excessive vanity, pride is the main sin. It is the sin committed by Lucifer, who rebelled against God. Its opposite is humility.
  2. Avarice: is the exaggerated attachment to money and material goods. Its opposite is generosity.
  3. Envy: it is the sadness for the achievements of others. Its opposite is charity, detachment. The first murder, narrated in the Old Testament, is provoked by the envy that Cain felt for Abel.
  4. Will: it is anger, fury, lack of control, which can lead to violence. Its opposite is patience.
  5. Lust: is the excessive pursuit of sexual pleasures. Its opposite is chastity.
  6. Greediness: is the exaggerated desire to eat and drink. Its opposite is moderation.
  7. Laziness: unwillingness to engage in activities (physical or mental) that require effort. The opposite of laziness is action, effort. Aquinas used the term accidia (kind of sadness, apathy, boredom, numbness). But over time the use of the term laziness prevailed.

Read more about each of the 7 Deadly Sins.

The word “capital” comes from the Latin term caput, which means “head”. This means that the deadly sins are the leaders, the heads of all sinful actions. They are at the origin of all faults. That is why it is said that the seven sins are not concrete actions, but human tendencies to addiction.

Thus, a person can commit murder out of anger. Envy can be behind acts of cruelty and cheating. Manifestations of selfishness and lack of charity are the result of greed.

All human defects, according to the Christian view, are derived from each of the seven sins, which can be seen as tendencies towards addiction. These tendencies, in turn, have to do with the sinful nature of human beings, whose origin is in the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. Like the fault committed by Adam and Eve in Paradise, every sin can be seen as a transgression of the divine will.

Did you like this content? Try reading these too:

  • what is superb
  • what is greed
  • what is envy
  • what is pride
  • what is laziness
  • List of a person's defects
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