什么是原罪?为什么亚当的罪与我有关?
What is original sin? Why does Adam's sin affect me?
简答 Short Answer
原罪是指亚当作为全人类的代表犯罪后,他的罪和败坏传递给了所有后代。我们不仅继承了犯罪的倾向,也在亚当里被算为有罪。
Original sin means that after Adam sinned as humanity's representative, his guilt and corruption were transmitted to all his descendants. We inherit not only a tendency to sin but are counted guilty in Adam.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
罗马书5:12说:「罪是从一人入了世界,死又是从罪来的;于是死就临到众人,因为众人都犯了罪。」亚当不是以个人身份犯罪,而是作为全人类的「盟约代表」(federal head)犯罪。正如一国的总统所签的条约约束全国人民,亚当的选择影响了他所有的后代。
原罪包含两个层面:归算的罪咎(亚当的罪被算在我们头上)和遗传的败坏(我们从出生就有犯罪的倾向)。这就是为什么我们不需要教小孩子说谎和自私——这些是与生俱来的。大卫说:「我是在罪孽里生的,在我母亲怀胎的时候就有了罪」(诗51:5)。
这看似不公平,但它实际上是福音的基础。因为罪是通过代表传递的,救恩也可以通过代表获得。亚当是第一个代表,带来了罪和死;基督是第二个亚当、末后的亚当(林前15:45),带来了义和生命。「因一人的悖逆,众人成为罪人;照样,因一人的顺从,众人也成为义了」(罗5:19)。
Romans 5:12 says: 'Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.' Adam didn't sin as a private individual but as humanity's 'federal head' (covenant representative). Just as a president's treaty binds the entire nation, Adam's choice affected all his descendants.
Original sin has two dimensions: imputed guilt (Adam's sin is charged to us) and inherited corruption (we're born with a disposition toward sin). This is why we don't need to teach children to lie or be selfish — it comes naturally. David said: 'I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me' (Psalm 51:5).
This may seem unfair, but it's actually the foundation of the gospel. Because sin was transmitted through a representative, salvation can also be received through a representative. Adam was the first representative, bringing sin and death; Christ is the second Adam, the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), bringing righteousness and life. 'As by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous' (Rom 5:19).
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •Original Sin (Jonathan Edwards)
- •Systematic Theology Ch.24 (Wayne Grudem)
- •Not the Way It's Supposed to Be (Cornelius Plantinga)