We all know that sin is serious, but are there different degrees of sin? Venial sin cuts to the heart of this question and is a concept that tends to divide believers.
So what makes it so controversial?
What Does the Term Venial Sin Mean?
The word venial is an archaic English word that means pardonable or forgivable. So, venial sin is a sin that can be forgiven. The Catholic Catechism defines venial sin as “sin that allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.” It refers to a sin committed either without full knowledge that it was a sin or with less severity. Venial sin’s counterpart is mortal sin (which cannot be forgiven except by the sacrament of absolution).
One reason Roman Catholicism distinguishes between mortal and venial sins is its doctrine that grace is imparted through the sacraments. All Christian denominations believe in a certain number of sacraments (such as baptism and communion). Roman Catholicism intertwines the idea of mortal and venial sins with the sacraments of penance and last rites. Penance is the act of confessing sins to a priest, followed by prayer absolving those sins. According to the Council of Trent, no one can fully avoid venial sin unless given special grace (like Mary in Catholic Theology).
When Did Christians Start Using the Term Venial Sin?
The terms mortal sin and venial sin are first used in the early 400s. One of the first records of its use is “Against Jovinius,” a letter by Jerome criticizing writer and monk Jovinian.
Jovinian held many doctrines that church authorities rejected at the time. For example, he taught that
- virgins are no better than married people in God’s eyes
- all sins are equal in the eyes of God
- there is only one level in heaven and Hell (as opposed to a multilayered Hell, an idea presented in works like Dante’s Divine Comedy).
- Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, but did not perpetually stay a virgin her entire life
- Many of these ideas became accepted parts of Protestant doctrine over a thousand years later.
Jerome’s reference to venial sin shows how central the idea became. Along with Augustine, Jerome is considered one of the early church’s most influential teachers. His work included defending the faith against heretics and translating the Old and New Testaments into Latin (this translation became known as the Vulgate).
Which Christian Denominations Talk about Venial Sin?
While Roman Catholicism has maintained venial sin as a central doctrine, most Protestants reject the idea.
Venial sin is closely tied to Roman Catholic views on penance and confession. According to Roman Catholic doctrine, it is in confession that a person is absolved from venial sins. Any venial sin not absolved by a priest or repented through praying the “Hail Mary” or “Our Father” prayer leads to increased time in Purgatory. Purgatory (another controversial concept not accepted in most Protestant denominations) owes a lot to 2 Maccabees 12:46. The book of 2 Maccabees is one of several deuterocanonical books accepted by Roman Catholics but not necessarily by other denominations (together, these books are often called the Apocrypha).
Venial sin plays a large role in Roman Catholic theology because Roman Catholic Christians’ emphasis on confession affects their views on salvation. In their view, all sins must be confessed before death, or the believer will end up in Purgatory (or if they have committed a mortal sin and not repented, in Hell).
Protestants and Orthodox believers do not deny that some sins are more destructive than others—for example, murder has more severe consequences than stealing candy from the gas station. In their view, however, forgiveness is still possible when the believer repents. This seems counterintuitive to human nature because one could forgive something so serious as murder. However, Protestant and Orthodox Christians argue this points to God’s great love and mercy.
Protestants have an assurance of salvation because God has revealed in scripture “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Catholics believe that God won’t abandon believers but that believers can abandon God. God does not keep the believer pure. The believer needs to work to stay in Good standing with God by keeping the sacraments. Therefore, they contradict the plain reading of Scripture.
One problem with these doctrines is that James 2:10 says any breaking of the law means all of it has been broken. Therefore, all sin is mortal before God. Because God is perfect, no sin can come into his presence, regardless of its severity. Only through Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of the believer can they come before him.
Does the Bible Talk about Venial Sin?
Roman Catholics believe venial sin is referenced in 1 John 5:16-17. The plain reading of 1 John 5:16-17 refers to one believer seeing another sin and praying for them. He is commanded to pray for his brother about the sin that doesn’t lead to death. While Roman Catholics argue this verse lays the groundwork for confessing to remove a less serious sin. Protestants would argue that this interpretation assumes some sins cannot be forgiven without confessing to a priest.
The argument against venial sin lies in the Bible’s emphasis on God’s mercy. According to Bible Commentator William Barclay, “So long as man in his heart of hearts hates sin and hates himself for sinning, so long as he knows that he is sinning, he is never beyond repentance, and never beyond forgiveness.”
All believers were once sinners and still struggle with sin daily. The beauty of God’s grace is that He can cleanse us of all sins, past, present, and future. In God’s eyes, all sin is forgivable if the person is in Christ. Over time, however, the heart can become callous to sin and begin to love it. Therefore, the believer must confess their sin to God because “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
How Does Venial Sin Relate to God’s Grace?
The Roman Catholic definition of venial sin makes sense when the Catholic view of grace comes into focus. Roman Catholicism teaches that grace comes through the sacraments. In the Roman Catholic view, Jesus’ sacrifice only cleanses the believer of sins they committed up to the point of baptism. From confirmation onward, they must confess their sins to a priest and perform prayers (or spend more time in Purgatory).
The Roman Catholic emphasis on confession appeals because it quantifies and makes sanctification tangible. Simply say a set number of many prayers, and forgiveness will come. While this view is appealing, other denominations would argue this makes the Christian life about doing work to be forgiven rather than relying on God’s grace.
Christians who believe in mortal and venial sin must consider how to reconcile these beliefs with the Bible’s emphasis that God has lavished on us all the grace we will ever need. Is not Christ’s death a sufficient penalty for all of our sins? Do Christians need to do anything to work off their sins, or do we repent and trust the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work to change our hearts as we trust God?
Photo Credit: Getty Images/LightFieldStudios
Ben Reichert works with college students in New Zealand. He graduated from Iowa State in 2019 with degrees in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and agronomy. He is passionate about church history, theology, and having people walk with Jesus. When not working or writing you can find him running or hiking in the beautiful New Zealand Bush.
This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:
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