Definition of sin

Etymology of sin

OE synn for "moral wrongdoing, injury, mischief, enmity, feud, guilt, crime, offense against God, misdeed"

  • from PIE *snt-ya-, forming *es-ont- for "becoming"
    • in Germanic language groups, took on meaning of "it is true". as in "the sin is real"

Forgiveness of sin

"Because sin is always an offences against God, only he can forgive it"

Origin of sin in man

For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy. (Mt 15:19)

Types of sin

St. Paul on sins or "works of the flesh":

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions (Gal 5:19-20)

From CCC 1853:

Sins can be distinguished according to their objects, as can every human act; or according to the virtues they oppose, by excess or defect; or according to the commandments they violate. They can also be classed according to whether they concern God, neighbor, or oneself; they can be divided into spiritual and carnal sins, or again as sins in thought, word, deed, or omission. The root of sin is in the heart of man, in his free will, according to the teaching of the Lord: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man." But in the heart also resides charity, the source of the good and pure works, which sin wounds.

which we can organize as

Classification Types
distinguish sins by their objects

by the virtues they oppose

by the Commandments they violate

sins as against God

against neighbor

against oneself

types of spiritual

carnal

location of in thought

in word deeded omissions