By Michael Annan Kasukose

Introduction

Definition: The doctrine of original sin holds that each human being is born into a state or condition of sin as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve (the fall of man). It further asserts that, due to this original sin, one is hereditarily totally depraved and inclined to do evil right from the moment of conception.

The doctrine of original sin, though not original to the apostles and first-century Christians, has permeated the denominational world. Some sources indicate that Christianity had no doctrine of original sin prior to the 4th century. Thus, it is a post-apostolic and apostate doctrine rather than authentic Christian doctrine. This doctrine also became the motivation for introducing another post-apostolic erroneous doctrine: infant baptism. The doctrine of original sin is primarily based on two passages, Romans 5:12-27 and Psalm 51:5. For the purpose of this paper, Romans 5:12 will not be discussed.

Psalm 51:5

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.”

For the purposes of this study on the book of Psalms, we will focus on this passage.

Firstly, one key principle I have learned from the Psalms is that, though inspired, they were not written as theological treatises like the books of Romans or Galatians. The Psalms provide insight into the everyday lives of righteous people like David, the challenges they faced, and how they devoted themselves to God while dealing with such problems.

Secondly, the Psalms consist mainly of poetic expressions characterized by imaginative figures of speech and hyperbolic language to emphasize points. That is, they are highly figurative.

Thus, God did not intend for man to base doctrine on the Psalms. Using Psalm 51:5 as a foundation for the doctrine of original sin is, therefore, unfortunate and incorrect.

Using the Inductive Method to Explain Psalm 51:5

Psalm 51 is a lament in which David prays for forgiveness. The obvious background of this Psalm is David’s sin of adultery and murder, and his conviction after the prophet Nathan confronted him (2 Samuel 12:1). In verse 13 of 2 Samuel 12, David said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” This Psalm further sheds light on this statement, helping us understand David’s thoughts and feelings after his sin.

David acknowledged his sin and took responsibility for it, recognizing that he had chosen to sin. “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me… And done this evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:2-4). The pronoun “my” indicates that David refers to his personal sin, not inherited sin. David, distressed by his sin, poetically exaggerates, saying that he had not been any good from birth—despite being described as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). This statement is figurative and does not mean he was a sinner from the womb.

Wayne Jackson aptly states: “David was born into a sinful world just like any of us are, but until we attain the age of spiritual responsibility, we do not sin.”

Interpreting Psalm 51:5 in Light of Other Scriptures

A key principle of hermeneutics is to use clear passages to interpret unclear ones. Though Psalm 51:5 is not necessarily ambiguous, other scriptures can help us understand it better.

• Exodus 32:33 – This verse emphasizes personal responsibility for sin. Though the physical effects of sin may extend to others, the guilt of sin is not transferred. When Moses offered himself as a substitute for Israel’s sinners, God replied, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” This contradicts the doctrine of original sin.
• Psalm 22:9-10 – David expresses his confidence in God: “But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.” This passage describes someone in a righteous relationship with God from infancy. It would be contradictory to say David was both a sinner from birth and one who trusted in God from birth.
• Ezekiel 18:4, 20 – God states that “all souls belong to Me” and distinguishes between a father’s and a son’s soul. He then declares: “The soul who sins shall die. The father shall not bear the guilt of the son, nor the son bear the guilt of the father.” This passage clearly teaches that sin is not inherited. If this principle applied to Israel, it must also apply to all humanity in relation to Adam.
• Matthew 19:14 – Jesus used little children as an example of those fit for the kingdom of God. He not only commended their humility (Matthew 18:1-4) but also their innocence. Paul also affirms this in 1 Corinthians 14:20. If children were born sinners, they could not serve as models of purity and innocence.

Conclusion

Having considered all the above verses in conjunction with Psalm 51:5, we can safely conclude that the verse is not teaching original sin. Instead, it is a poetic expression of David’s distress over his personal sin, highlighting the deep remorse he felt while seeking God’s forgiveness.