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Romans – Hamartia (Sin)
Trends should not be ignored, especially when considering how words are used. Sometimes noticing the trend will lead to greater understanding. Sometimes the trend is simply coincidence. When looking at harmartia (266), which is the most common Greek word for sin and means, “to miss the mark,” we see some interesting trends within the book of Romans.
- #1 – Hamartia occurs 49 times in Romans
- #2 – Only twice is it plural (Romans 4:7; 11:27). Both of those times are quotes from the O.T.
- In chapters 1-4, it only occurs 4 times (3:9,20; 4:7,8), although chapters 1-2 contains lists of specific sins.
- After chapter 8, hamartia only occurs 2 times (11:27; 14:23).
- That leaves 43 occurrences between chapters 5-8 (starting in 5:12).
One commentator noting the above suggested a view I think goes too far:
“No commentary or exposition is worthy of the slightest attention which does not mark this distinction and division between verses 11 and 12” (E.W. Bullinger, via, Baxter, p.70)
His point is that Romans marks a difference in dealing with “sins” committed individually, and “sin” as part of the “Federal Headship” of Adam .
In reading Romans concerning hamartia, the difference uses are striking:
- Under sin; (3:9)
- Knowledge of sin (3:20; 7:7)
- Sins forgiven (4:7,8; 11:27)
- Sin entered into/in world (5:12,13)
- Sin increased (5:20)
- Sin reigned (5:21; 6:12)
- Continue in sin; live in sin (6:1,2)
- Died to/dead to sin (6:2,10,11; 8:10)
- Body of sin; sin in body; “sinful flesh” (6:6; 7:5; 8:3)
- Slave to sin (6:6; 7:14)
- Freed from sin (6:7,18,22)
- Sin master; present body to sin; slave of sin (6:13,14,16,17)
- Wages of sin is death (6:23)
- Is Law sin? (7:7)
- Sin produced coveting (7:8)
- Apart from law sin is dead (7:8)
- Sin became alive I died (7:9)
- Sin deceived me (7:11)
- Sin killed (7:11,13)
- Sin dwells in me and “sins” (7:17,20)
- Law of sin (7:23,25; 8:2)
- Law of death (8:2)
- Sin condemned (8:3)
- Not of faith then sin (14:23)
The purpose of the above grouping is to help us see the bigger picture by not getting bogged down into just one verse. Seeing the above shows us companion passages, along with showing us how differently hamaratia is portrayed. Our study and understanding should likewise be affected by how hamartia is revealed in the book of Romans.
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