Sins of the father: Do we inherit our fathers' sins?

[Ivellious]

Just a curious part of the Bible. Obviously, we all inherited Adam's "original sin" according to the Bible and have all been endlessly punished for it with mortality. But does the Bible indicate that this logic applies to all cases? Do we all inherit the sins of our fathers, and should we be held accountable for them? A little research led to some interesting Bible verses:

Some seem to indicate that God does in fact punish us for things we do not do.
(Exodus 20:5) - "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,"
(Deuteronomy 5:9) - "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,"
(Exodus 34:6-7) - "Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."
(1 Cor. 15:22) - "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."

Others say exactly the opposite.
(Deuteronomy 24:16) - "Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin."
(Ezekiel 18:20) - "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself."

Exodus 20:5 (and Deuteronomy 5:9) is part of the Ten Commandments, so that would seem to override all other verses, right? anyone have any other verses or thoughts to add to this?

[wrain62]

There is probably not a one answer fits all description. First of all I want to say that all of our fathers have commited sins and their influence definitely carries on through the generations to breed more evil. So when the bible says that God visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Him, does it mean he allows the sins of the fathers to reach their potential as part of respecting the reality that he made in which the consequenses that come with actions are in fact real and the visiting is the allowance of the fathers' influence to reach through generations? Therefore still the "righteous person will be judged according to his righteousness, and the wicked person according to his wickedness" (Ezekiel 18:20). God does not make redemption impossible, but he knows that perfect law within a person throughout their life is. Cycles can be broken.

[Ivellious]

Interesting thought. Though it is interesting how humankind was never really given a chance at redemption following the Original Sin of Adam. That punishment was never relinquished. Though I do like the way you look at it.

[wrain62]

Thank you.

[B. W.]

Just a curious part of the Bible. Obviously, we all inherited Adam's "original sin" according to the Bible and have all been endlessly punished for it with mortality. But does the Bible indicate that this logic applies to all cases? Do we all inherit the sins of our fathers, and should we be held accountable for them? A little research led to some interesting Bible verses:

Some seem to indicate that God does in fact punish us for things we do not do.
(Exodus 20:5) - "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,"
(Deuteronomy 5:9) - "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,"
(Exodus 34:6-7) - "Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."
(1 Cor. 15:22) - "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."

Others say exactly the opposite.
(Deuteronomy 24:16) - "Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin."
(Ezekiel 18:20) - "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself."

Exodus 20:5 (and Deuteronomy 5:9) is part of the Ten Commandments, so that would seem to override all other verses, right? anyone have any other verses or thoughts to add to this?

Please note the phrase - "to those who hate (God)"

It is the spreading of hate towards God and teaching the proceedings generation to Hate God as well per the context of the Command – read the verse again – what do you see?.

Next Balance this with Deuteronomy 7:9

Next note how Deuteronomy 24:16 - Ezekiel 18:20 are worded… There is a difference in the kind of sin that teaches others to hate God that lead others astray as context indicates, and the other sins aree those that break the other 8 commandments… It is also a promise to any who hate God or sin against others the benift of repentence...

One involves hate towards God that makes others unwilling to trust in Him. The others are sins against human beings.

Hope this helps.

[Danieltwotwenty]

Nice post Bryan, I always wondered about those verses myself and now it is a lot clearer.

Dan

[Silvertusk]

Interesting thought. Though it is interesting how humankind was never really given a chance at redemption following the Original Sin of Adam. That punishment was never relinquished. Though I do like the way you look at it.

Yes it was - Through Jesus.

[Canuckster1127]

There's also more than one view with regard to "Original Sin". Romans 5 indicates that although all of mankind identifies with Adam collectively that Jesus Christ is the Second Adam and through Him all may identify with Him instead as the one who fulfilled all that was necessary to break the hold of sin upon mankind.

How this happens is of course a matter of much controversy among different traditions who see things differently. The mechanics of Salvation in the west tends to focus on a highly technical and philosophical set of beliefs that breaks everything down to where then the order of how things happens becomes a tremendous area of argument and disagreement.

There is a predominant view in our western world in evangelical churches and that is probably the one that you're referring to when you ask these questions Ivellious and I understand that as it's often presented bu evangelicals and christians as the only way it can be understood. I'm not saying with this that it's right or it's wrong, but understand that there are other traditions and points of view, again, not all necessarily right, that understand some of these things in ways that are different.

With regard to original sin, for example, there are some who believe that Jesus dealt with that issue for everyone and on that basis the only issue that remains to be dealt with individually are our own individual sins and that becomes a matter of each individual deciding what to do with the grace God offers through Christ. This is a mainstream form of Christianity that is known as Arminianism and while it's not the most popular view in many sectors and carries a lot of vehement responses over some of the implications from some, it's not some off the wall system of belief or tradition but a part of what many consider to be viable theology.

Often times those within the atheist community, particularly New Atheists take on their own forms of militant fundamentalism and make assertions and claims about what Christians believe and how it must lead to invariable conclusions. In so doing, it seems to me at least, that they're taking on the characteristics of some sectors of Christian belief that they claim to oppose. It's usually a good idea to listen and hear how some of these issues are addressed and wrestled with even between Christians rather than lumping everyone together.