Sin: A Guide for the Perplexed (Guides For The Perplexed)

169 Pages·2011·0.72 MB·English

by  Derek R. Nelson

SIN: A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED
T&T Clark Guides for the Perplexed
T&T Clark’s Guides for the Perplexed are clear, concise, and accessible
introductions to thinkers, writers, and subjects that students and readers can
find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that
makes the subject difficult to grasp, these books explain and explore key
themes and ideas, guiding the reader toward a thorough understanding of
demanding material.
Guides for the Perplexed available from T&T Clark:
De Lubac: A Guide for the Perplexed, David Grumett
Christian Bioethics: A Guide for the Perplexed, Agneta Sutton
Calvin: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul Helm
Tillich: A Guide for the Perplexed, Andrew O’Neill
The Trinity: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul M. Collins
Christology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Alan Spence
Wesley: A Guide for the Perplexed, Jason E. Vickers
Pannenberg: A Guide for the Perplexed, Timothy Bradshaw
Balthasar: A Guide for the Perplexed, Rodney Howsare
Theological Anthropology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Marc Cortez
Benedict XVI: A Guide for the Perplexed, Tracey Rowland
Eucharist: A Guide for the Perplexed, Ralph N. McMichael
Process Theology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Bruce Epperly
Forthcoming Titles:
Political Theology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Elizabeth Philips
Martyrdom: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul Middleton
SIN: A GUIDE
FOR THE PERPLEXED
DEREK R. NELSON
Published by T&T Clark International
A Continuum Imprint
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t ransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, i ncluding
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without permission in writing from the publishers.
Copyright © Derek R. Nelson, 2011
Derek R. Nelson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Author of this work.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
EISBN13 : 978-0-567-31817-6

Typeset by Newgen Imaging Systems Pvt Ltd, Chennai, India
Printed and bound in Great Britain
For Kelly
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments viii
Abbreviations x
Chapter 1 The Good News about Sin 1
Chapter 2 Approaches to Sin in the Bible 17
Chapter 3 Original Sin and the Legacy of Augustine 36
Chapter 4 S in-Nonyms: Estrangement, Isolation, Rebellion,
and Self-Justification 53
Chapter 5 S ocial Sin 1: Relationality and
the Formation of the Sinful Self 78
Chapter 6 Social Sin 2: Structures of Oppression 105
Conclusion 116
Notes 119
Bibliography 139
Index of Scripture References 151
General Index 154
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing on sin as I have for several years now, I have incurred several
debts that I cannot hope to repay. The first debts are to many teach-
ers from whose guidance I have benefitted in thinking through prob-
lems in theological understandings of creation and human nature.
Here I must mention at least the names of David Kelsey, Miroslav
Volf, the late William Placher, Stephen Webb, Ted Peters, and the late
Timothy Lull. Richard Schenk, OP, encouraged me to press the
“gnesio-Lutheran” seriousness of sin into the contemporary theo-
logical agenda. Though he did not make a Flacian of me, he did
come close, and I am very grateful for his support. Most people
would count themselves lucky to have studied with just a couple from
the above group. That I can count them all teachers and friends is a
great gift.
For the last 4 years I have called Thiel College home, and many
colleagues here have richly contributed to my thinking on these mat-
ters. I am especially grateful for the commitment to interdisciplinar-
ity that infuses scholarship and teaching at Thiel. Such a widening of
perspectives has made me into a theologian who does not shrink
from natural or social scientific approaches to theological questions,
and who sees as one of his “publics” the wider academic community
for whom particular theological commitments have neither intellec-
tual weight nor existential import. Curtis L. Thompson read an entire
draft of this text, and I have greatly benefitted from his insights.
Bryan Wagoner has been an important theological conversation
partner for many years now. The New Testament scholar George
Branch-Trevathan helped enormously in thinking through issues as
broad as “Paul on sin” and as narrow as the proper pointing of
Hebrew verbs. Others in Greenville, such as Martin Roth (from whose
gift of portions of his personal library much of my reading has
viii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
come), Sean McConnor, and the sagacious Seth Myers are also to be
thanked as is Larry Lyke.
Portions of this text were written with the support of the North-
western Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, and I am glad to thank them, and Bishop Ralph Jones, for
their support. During the writing of this book I also worked closely
in pastoral ministry with the Rev. Albert Gesler, Jr., Tammy Williams,
and Heather Wilt, and I appreciate their cooperation and good
humor more than I can say. I would also like to thank Thomas Kraft
and his many gifted colleagues at T&T Clark/Continuum. To work
with them really has been a pleasure.
Last, the personal debts are always among the most difficult to
properly name, though I feel them most keenly. I apologize here in
print to the students at Thiel and elsewhere whose wait-time for
returned tests and papers increased significantly during the writing
of this text. For the parishioners at Twelve Apostles Lutheran Church
in Saegertown, PA, and at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Greenville,
PA, I am grateful, especially as they listened to more sermons about
sin than most folks have since Edwards was preaching.
Finally, I owe so very much to my wife Kelly, in large part due to
the fact that she would say I don’t owe her anything at all. Though
I’m certain this is one of the odder things a man has given his wife,
and that she can’t possibly want it, this book is nonetheless for her.
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