Theology Terms Explained: “Hamartiology”
In this series on the blog, we’re providing sound doctrine for everyday people by providing you with clear and simple definitions that will strengthen your theological foundation. Each article covers 4 categories including:
The Term – We lay out how it’s pronounced.
The Definition – We provide the Merriam-Webster definition and an everyday version.
The Biblical Connection – We show you where the term connects with Scripture.
Used in an Everyday Conversation – We use it in a basic conversation.
Here we go!
The Term
“Hamartiology”
ha·mar·ti·ol·o·gy
The Definition
Merriam Webster: A part of theology treating the doctrine of sin.
FTG’s Expanded Explanation: Hamartiology is the theological study of sin and it comes from the New Testament Greek word hamartia which means to “miss the mark.” This is where we get the idea that sin is “missing the mark” of God’s standard (Romans 3:23) and the truth that without a solution for our sin we are damned to eternity in hell. While some people are uncomfortable with consequences and topics like sin, the concept of bad decisions leading to judgment is widely understood throughout history including in literature not even associated with theology. Merriam Webster offers expanded insight to the term hamartia saying, “Aristotle introduced the term in the Poetics to describe the error of judgment which ultimately brings down the tragic hero’s downfall.” This helps us see that even in sources outside of the Bible, an error in judgment and missing the mark leads to the downfall of an individual. As Christians, we define sin as that which is an error in our decision-making as we rebel against God and do whatever we want, which leads to our downfall and eternal judgment. This is what makes the Gospel so important. We need a Savior to solve our problem of sin and eternal judgment.
The Biblical Connection
Romans 3:23 is one of the foremost key verses in helping people understand that every person has sinned and has missed the mark set by God.
Romans 6:23 explains that the wages of sin is “death.” This conveys the serious condemnation that results from sin. For the believer in Jesus, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1) because we’ve been justified by faith in Jesus (Romans 3:24-26).
Original sin is an important concept to understand when studying hamartiology. Romans 5:12 explains that every single person born is stained with original sin because of Adam and Eve. In other words, even if a baby is born without having committed an act of sin, they are stained by sin and depraved in their nature (Ephesians 2:1-3). All humans need Jesus in order to be saved from the effects and condemnation of sin.
Further Study: Romans 3, Romans 5, Ephesians 2.
Used in Everyday Conversation
“The study of hamartiology is one of the most important because it helps us understand how we sin, why we sin, and the effects of sin.”
“Those who insist that we are all inherently good in our hearts and simply need help tapping into our ‘goodness’ would do well to study hamartiology. They will find that nothing good is within us, which is why we need God to transform us.”
