Doctrine of original sin: A historical-biblical evaluation of the theories of original sin as suggested between the 16th and the 18th centuries

Abstract

The doctrine of original sin was and is still considered one of the most important topics in Christian dogmatics. As Anthony Hoekema argues, this doctrine "has always been an essential aspect of the Christian doctrine of man. Though this doctrine basically belongs to anthropology among the various areas of Christian dogmatics, its significance is not limited to this area. The importance of the doctrine of original sin even extends to the area of soteriology. A different view of original sin may create a different understanding of the "how" of salvation. In this sense, this doctrine is not less important than any other Christian doctrine. However, it is to be recognized that, in spite of its importance, the doctrine of original sin has been regarded as one of the most difficult and controversial topics of Christian theology.