How does Romans 3:12 relate to the concept of original sin? Text “All have turned away; together they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:12) Immediate Literary Setting Romans 3:9-18 forms Paul’s climax in a chain of Old Testament citations proving universal guilt. Verses 10-12 quote Psalm 14:1-3 (LXX numbering Psalm 13), reinforced by Ecclesiastes 7:20 and Isaiah 53:6. The apostle’s grammatical choices—panes (“all”), ekselinon (“turned aside”), hēchrēsthēsan (“become useless”)—paint corporate, not merely individual, ruin. He deliberately stacks negatives (“no one… not even one”) to exclude any exceptions. Original Sin in Pauline Theology 1. Solidarity in Adam—Paul later ties humanity’s moral collapse to Adam’s headship (Romans 5:12-19). The universal “turning away” presupposes a single historical breach that corrupted the race. 2. Inability, Not Mere Imitation—The Greek achreioō (“worthless”) implies functional incapacity, not simple unwillingness. This aligns with the Augustinian reading that sin is inherited corruption, not only copied behavior (cf. Psalm 51:5). 3. No Autonomous Good—Paul’s “no one who does good” is absolute. Any apparent virtue outside Christ is defective at its root because motives and ends fail to glorify God (Romans 14:23). Old Testament Echoes Psalm 14 laments a post-Fall humanity: “The LORD looks down… to see if any seek God” (v.2). Genesis 6:5 reports the same diagnosis before the Flood. The prophetic chorus (Isaiah 64:6) confirms a continuous biblical witness that moral ruin is endemic, explaining why redemption must originate with God alone. Theological Framework of Original Sin Original sin comprises three facets: 1. Judicial guilt inherited from Adam (Romans 5:18). 2. Moral corruption permeating mind, will, and emotions (Ephesians 2:3). 3. Physical mortality as a consequence (Genesis 3:19; 1 Corinthians 15:22). Romans 3:12 demonstrates the second facet—corruption—while presupposing the first. Philosophical and Behavioral Corroboration Cross-cultural anthropology records universal moral codes—truth-telling, fidelity, altruism—yet every culture documents violations of those same norms. Behavioral studies (e.g., Yale “Baby Lab” experiments) show toddlers display in-group bias and retaliatory instincts absent social conditioning, supporting an innate bent toward self-interest. Christological Resolution Romans 3 moves from indictment (vv.9-20) to remedy (vv.21-26). Christ’s propitiatory death reverses Adamic guilt; His resurrection inaugurates new humanity (1 Corinthians 15:45-49). Romans 8:3-4 clarifies that what the Law could not accomplish due to “weakness of the flesh,” God achieved by sending His Son “in the likeness of sinful flesh.” Pastoral Application Awareness of original sin discourages utopian humanism and drives individuals to grace. Evangelistically, Romans 3:12 dismantles self-righteousness, clearing the ground for “the righteousness of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22). Summary Romans 3:12 is a linchpin text linking humanity’s present moral futility to the historic Fall and thereby to the doctrine of original sin. Its universal scope, rooted in consistent manuscript evidence and reinforced by observable human behavior, confirms Scripture’s claim that every person requires the redemptive intervention secured in the crucified and risen Christ. |
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