[Greek] ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō), [Latin] peccare, [Latin] delinquere, [French] faillir, [French] faire faute: to sin, the miss the mark, to do wrong, to commit sin; 48 scriptural references
Many have rightly called GK Chesterton the “apostle of common sense”.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to miss the mark, to fail, to go wrong, to act in vain, and to neglect.
Herodotus’ The Histories 9.79: “I thank you for your goodwill and forethought, but you have missed the mark of right judgment.
Lysias’ Against Philon 31.20: “For the facts are of such a nature that even if he committed no other offense they would justify his rejection.”
Euripides’ Medea 498: “And how we have been cheated of our hopes!”
Aeschylus Prometheus 262: “And yet, it is not pleasant for me to talk about how you wronged.”
Sophocles’ Philoctetes 1249: “My error was to my dishonor, and now I must retrieve it.”
Sophocles’ Electra 1207: “Do as I say, and you will never be mistaken.”
Old Testament: This term means to offend, to trespass, to be guilty, to miss the way, to sin, to act unfaithfully, and to corrupt.
New Testament: This term means to sin, to wrong, and to commit a crime. I will point some noteworthy scriptural examples.
Mt.18:21: [Jesus]: you must continually forgive those who sin against you
Lk.17:3: Rebuke and forgive your brother who sins (causing scandal)
Jn.8:11: [Jesus]: I do not condemn you. But sin no more!
Jn.9:3: The man’s blindness was permitted so that God’s works may be made visible
Rom.5:12: Through one person [Adam] sin entered the world
1Cor.6:18: The immoral person sins against his own body
Eph.4:26: If you are angry, do not let the sun set on your anger
1Tim.5:20: Reprimand publicly those [presbyters] who do sin, so that the rest will also be afraid
Tit.3:11: Break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted, sinful, and self-condemned
2Pet.2:4: False teachers will be punished just as surely as the fallen angels
1Jn.1:10: If we have not sinned, we make God a liar
Etymology: The Greek verb hamartano means to miss the mark. The Latin verb delinquere means to fail and to offend. The Latin verb peccare means to sin, to do wrong, and to stumble. A peccadillo is a slight sin, petty fault, or fault. Impeccable means not capable of sin (error). The French noun faute means fault
True compassion: Jesus was called to come to sinners. Jesus does not condemn, but calls others to sin no more. Jesus does not tolerate or condone sinful behavior.
False compassion: Church leaders, under the guise of mercy and inclusion can often resort to changing or diluting church teachings (doctrine) to adapt (accommodate) to the culture. False compassion (soft bigotry of low expectations) believes that others are not capable of doing or accomplishing something.
Conclusion:
Pecadillo, impeccable, delinquent, fail, failure,
Missing the mark implies failing, not meeting or refusing a standard. (This provides the basis for sin).
Jesus continually calls for forgiveness, but does not tolerate sinful behavior.
Jesus rightly cautions us to be on guard for the potential scandal which may come from sin.
Sin can result from the exultation of one’s own desire and interests.
Immoral sins make references to the body.
Evidently, there is some scriptural basis to the notion that a married couple should not go to bed angry. (Something to sleep on) ☺☺☺
Church leaders must be called to task by fellow teachers and laity.
Catholic cardinals, bishops, and priests are now being called out for advocating blessing same sex unions and sacrilegious practices.
Update: The Vatican’s synodality (meeting people where they are), although potentially valuable in theory, could find itself changing its teachings to the culture.
The German cardinals, bishops, and priests are actually going off the rails doctrinally by advocating for blessings for same sex unions, removing celibacy, and women priests.
Many churches (and church leaders) are often hesitant to speak about the evils of gender ideology and transgenderism (for fear of being called “transphobic”).
Presenting Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body (understanding God’s design for the human body) would be the true compassionate way to respond to the problem (confusion) of gender ideology. (Yet, nothing is heard about this from the Vatican.)
The Vatican’s silence in actively opposing gay marriage advocates (cardinals, bishops, and priests) is very concerning.
Many cannot see (or fail to see) that homosexuality and transgenderism undermine God’s design for male and female for procreation.
Abortion continues to be a great transgression (sin) against God’s design for procreation.
Sinful behavior continues to be rationalized by exultation of one’s own desires: “personal freedom and liberty”, “body autonomy”, “this is my lifestyle”, blindness to moral consequences, and convenience.
St. Hildegard of Bingen (born in 1098) prophesies that Antichrist will deceive through sexual immorality:
“The Antichrist will be infused by the devil when he opens his mouth to teach perversity…He will destroy all that God established within the ancient and the new law, and he will assert that sexual immorality and other like things are not sins at all…He will say: ‘Your law of sexual restraint was established contrary to the way of nature…Consider that Christ gave you unjust commands.…So see here and do not be misled any longer by an unjust teaching, for with me you get to do whatever you want, or not….For your first teacher [Christ] deceived you and didn’t help you in anything. But I inspire you really to learn about yourselves and to know what you are.‘
“That wretched son of perdition [Antichrist] will mislead people, teaching them to live according to the flesh’s fiery appetite and to achieve their flesh’s every want–despite the fact that both the old and the new law encourage humans to chastity. In this way, Lucifer will reject God’s justice through that son [Antichrist].”
“The Book of Divine Works” (Part III, Vision 5) c.1163
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