Seven Deadly Sins: Origins, Meaning & Biblical Truth

February 27, 2025

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origins, Biblical Meaning, and How They Affect Us Today

What Are the Seven Deadly Sins?

The Seven Deadly Sins—Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth—are among the most well-known moral teachings in Christianity. They represent fundamental human vices that, if unchecked, lead to greater sin and spiritual decay.

But where did they come from? Who created this list? And how do these sins still influence our lives today?

This in-depth guide will explore:
✅ The history and origins of the Seven Deadly Sins
✅ The key theologians and scholars who defined them
✅ The biblical basis for each sin
✅ How these sins still shape modern society

Let’s dive in.

1. The Origins of the Seven Deadly Sins

The concept of the Seven Deadly Sins was first introduced by early Christian thinkers. While the Bible does not list them as a single group, they were compiled and refined over centuries.

Evagrius Ponticus (345–399 AD): The First List of Deadly Sins

👉 Who Was He? A Christian monk and theologian known for his deep understanding of human temptation.

👉 His Contribution:

Created the first version of the "Eight Evil Thoughts" to help monks resist sin.
His list included: Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Anger, Sadness (later Sloth), Despondency, Vainglory, and Pride.
This list was the foundation for what became the Seven Deadly Sins.

👉 His Own Struggle: Pride – Evagrius believed he had mastered sin, which ironically made him vulnerable to spiritual arrogance.

Pope Gregory the Great (540–604 AD): The Final Version of the Seven Deadly Sins

👉 Who Was He? One of the most influential popes in history, known for reforming the Church and its moral teachings.

👉 His Contribution:

Reduced Evagrius’ eight sins to seven by combining some and renaming others.
Declared Pride as the “Queen of All Sins”, from which all others flow.
His list became the official version still used today.

👉 His Own Struggle: Greed – While he preached against wealth, he allowed the Church to accumulate massive riches and land holdings.

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274): The Philosopher Who Explained the Sins

👉 Who Was He? A theologian and philosopher who defined how sins lead to deeper corruption.

👉 His Contribution:

Explained how each sin has an opposite virtue:
- Pride → Humility
- Envy → Kindness
- Wrath → Patience
- Sloth → Diligence
- Greed → Charity
- Gluttony → Temperance
- Lust → Chastity
Connected the Seven Deadly Sins to human psychology and moral decay.

👉 His Own Struggle: Gluttony – Aquinas was known for overeating and indulgence, earning him the nickname "The Dumb Ox" (despite his brilliance).

2. The Seven Deadly Sins and Their Biblical Roots

While not explicitly listed in one place, the Bible clearly condemns each of the Seven Deadly Sins.