What are the seven deadly sins?
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
The traditional list of seven deadly sins — pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth — comes from Christian moral tradition, not straight from any one Bible verse. The phrase is Catholic in origin, developed in the 4th–6th centuries by monks in the East and West (Evagrius of Ponticus, John Cassian, then Pope Gregory the Great), and cemented into the popular imagination by Dante's Inferno. They are also called the seven capital vices — capital in the old sense of "head" or "source," because the tradition taught other sins flow out of them, and deadly because they lead to spiritual death.
The closest biblical parallel
Scripture does have a list of seven with the same shape. Proverbs 6:16-19: "There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers." Notice the items are not the same — pride is there as "arrogant eyes" in Proverbs 6:17, but the rest are lying, violence, scheming, false witness, and sowing discord. This is God's own catalogue, and the items reflect His character.
What Scripture says about each one
No single verse lines up all seven, but the Bible treats each of them seriously:
- Pride — Proverbs 8:13: "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
- Greed — Colossians 3:5: "covetousness, which is idolatry."
- Lust, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth — each is condemned across Proverbs, the prophets, and the New Testament epistles.
The verdict of Scripture on sin as a whole
The deeper point the Bible makes is that all sin is deadly, not just seven of them. Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The traditional list is useful as a heart-check, but don't mistake it for the whole of sin. Murder, lying, false witness, and sowing discord — God hates those too (Proverbs 6:17-19). And the cure isn't working through a checklist; it's the gospel of Jesus Christ, who died for every sin, those seven and everything else.
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 7, 2026
While the traditional catalogue of the seven deadly sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—arose within historic church tradition rather than from a single verse, Scripture speaks with absolute gravity concerning every one of these vices. God’s Word provides its own explicit catalogue of seven things the Lord detests in Proverbs 6, while consistently declaring that the wages of any unforgiven sin is death. Understanding what the Bible says about each vice reveals how deeply sin infects the human heart and why only Christ's atoning cross delivers us from its curse.
God's Own Seven
The Seven Dispositions the Lord Detests
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)
This passage offers Scripture's explicit catalogue of seven specific things God hates, exposing the active rebel heart from inward pride to outward strife.
When Scripture speaks directly of seven specific things under divine abhorrence, it points to Proverbs 6:16-19: "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him." The inspired text traces the anatomy of human depravity from the inward disposition to outward violence. In Proverbs 6:17, God names arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. The list plunges inward in Proverbs 6:18 to condemn a heart fabricating wicked schemes and feet racing swiftly to mischief, before culminating in Proverbs 6:19 with the false witness who breathes out deceit and anyone who deliberately fractures fellowship by sowing discord among brothers.
This explicit list reflects a uniform biblical witness concerning what God's holy character repels. The law in Deuteronomy 25:16 warns that all who act dishonestly are an abomination to the Lord God, while Proverbs 3:32 and Proverbs 11:20 contrast the devious and crooked in heart—whom God detests—with the blameless who walk in His intimate counsel. In Proverbs 17:15, perverting justice by acquitting the guilty or condemning the innocent is branded equally abominable, and Psalms 11:5 reveals that the Lord's soul hates the lover of violence. God brooks no rivals; Proverbs 16:5 affirms that everyone proud in heart will face certain retribution, and Zechariah 8:17 commands believers never to plot evil or love false oaths, for the Lord hates every such betrayal.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 6:16 | Declares that six things the Lord hates, indeed seven are an outright abomination to Him. |
| Proverbs 6:17 | Lists arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood as detestable to God. |
| Proverbs 6:18 | Condemns a heart that plots wicked schemes and feet that run swiftly toward evil mischief. |
| Proverbs 6:19 | Denounces a false witness who breathes lies and anyone who actively sows discord among brothers. |
| Deuteronomy 25:16 | Affirms that all who behave dishonestly or act unrighteously are an abomination to the Lord God. |
| Proverbs 3:32 | Contrasts the devious person whom God abominates with the upright who enjoy His intimate counsel. |
| Proverbs 11:20 | States that the crooked in heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless are His delight. |
| Proverbs 17:15 | Warns that justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous are both an abomination to God. |
| Psalms 11:5 | Affirms that the Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and lovers of violence. |
| Proverbs 16:5 | Declares everyone who is proud in heart an abomination to the Lord, assuring they will not go unpunished. |
| Zechariah 8:17 | Commands against plotting evil against neighbours or loving false oaths, because the Lord hates all these things. |
Pride and Envy
The Sins of Self-Exaltation and Bitter Resentment
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)
This verse directly links human arrogance to sudden and catastrophic destruction under God's judgment.
The deadly gravity of self-exaltation is declared unsparingly in Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Scripture consistently unmasks pride as an illusion that places creature in the place of Creator. Proverbs 8:13 links the reverent fear of the Lord to an active hatred of arrogance and perverted speech. When humanity boasts of self-sufficiency, God actively enters the lists against them; both James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 declare that God opposes the proud but gives His abundant grace to the humble. Obadiah 1:3 recalls how Edom's arrogant confidence in high clefts was nothing less than self-delusion invited before judgment.
Envy represents the bitter twin of pride, resenting the gifts and standing God bestows upon another. Proverbs 14:30 observes the physical and spiritual rot of such resentment, declaring that while a tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, envy rots the bones from within. In James 3:16, the apostle exposes jealous ambition as the fertile soil where disorder and every vile practice take root. Paul therefore warns in Galatians 5:26 against becoming conceited, provoking or envying one another, pointing believers instead to the self-forgetful standard of 1 Corinthians 13:4, where genuine godly love neither envies, nor boasts, nor puffs itself up.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 8:13 | Declares that the fear of the Lord means hating evil, pride, arrogance, and perverted speech. |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Warns that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit immediately precedes a fall. |
| James 4:6 | States that God opposes the proud but gives His abundant grace to the humble. |
| Proverbs 14:30 | Contrasts a tranquil heart giving life to the body with envy that rots the bones. |
| James 3:16 | Explains that where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, disorder and every vile practice follow. |
| Galatians 5:26 | Commands believers not to become conceited, provoking one another or envying one another. |
| Obadiah 1:3 | Warns Edom that pride of heart has deceived them into thinking no one can bring them down. |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | Commands humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. |
| 1 Corinthians 13:4 | Defines godly love as neither envying nor boasting, nor being arrogant. |
Greed and Gluttony
The Sins of Inordinate Appetite and Covetousness
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 (NIV)
Paul unmasks the true spiritual nature of greed by explicitly equating covetous desire with idolatry.
Paul strips covetousness of its cultural respectability in Colossians 3:5, commanding believers to put to death earthly appetites: "covetousness, which is idolatry." Greed is never merely a disordered desire for resources; it is an act of false worship that trusts in created wealth rather than the living God. The moral law struck at this root in Exodus 20:17, forbidding all lustful longing for a neighbor's house, spouse, or property. Jesus issued an urgent warning in Luke 12:15 to guard against all forms of greed, reminding hearers that life does not consist in an abundance of possessions, while 1 Timothy 6:10 underscores that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, leading many into ruin.
Gluttony similarly elevates physical appetite above God, turning belly hunger into a sovereign master. Proverbs 23:20-21 warns that heavy drinkers and gluttons reap poverty, arriving at rags, while Philippians 3:19 laments those whose end is destruction because their god is their belly and their glory is their shame. The insatiable nature of greed is diagnosed in Ecclesiastes 5:10, which observes that whoever loves money never has sufficient gain. Proverbs 28:25 contrasts the greedy soul who stirs up strife with the humble heart that trusts the Lord, and Hebrews 13:5 directs the soul toward lasting peace: keeping life free from the love of money through contentment in God's unfailing promise.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Exodus 20:17 | Forbids coveting a neighbor's house, spouse, servants, livestock, or anything belonging to another. |
| Luke 12:15 | Records Jesus warning to be on guard against all greed because life exceeds possessions. |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | Declares that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. |
| Colossians 3:5 | Commands putting to death earthly passions, including covetousness, which the text defines as idolatry. |
| Proverbs 23:20-21 | Warns that heavy drinkers and gluttons will come to poverty and be clothed in rags. |
| Philippians 3:19 | Describes enemies of Christ's cross whose end is destruction and whose god is their belly. |
| Ecclesiastes 5:10 | Observes that whoever loves money will never have enough, declaring the love of wealth vanity. |
| Proverbs 28:25 | States that a greedy person stirs up strife, while whoever trusts in the Lord will be enriched. |
| Hebrews 13:5 | Exhorts believers to keep their lives free from love of money and be content with what they have. |
Lust, Wrath, and Sloth
The Sins of Impurity, Unchecked Rage, and Neglect
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:28 (NIV)
Jesus penetrates beyond external deeds to condemn inward lustful intent as the moral equivalent of adultery.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus laid bare the spiritual reality of desire in Matthew 5:28: "everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." True obedience does not consist solely in avoiding outward transgressions; the inward gaze matters to God. Paul therefore commands in 1 Corinthians 6:18 to flee sexual immorality, explaining that unchastity sins uniquely against one's own body, which was redeemed as a temple of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, believers are charged to control their vessels in sanctification and honor, rather than yielding to the passionate lust of those who do not know God.
Unchecked wrath and spiritual sloth tear down life with equal ruin. Scripture warns in Ephesians 4:26-27 not to allow the sun to set upon anger, lest a foothold be granted to the devil, while James 1:19-20 urges believers to be slow to speak and slow to anger because human wrath cannot work God's righteousness. Colossians 3:8 commands the complete putting away of malice, rage, and abusive speech. Against the paralysis of sloth, Proverbs 6:6-11 directs the sluggard to the diligent ant, showing how laziness invites sudden destitution. Proverbs 19:15 and Proverbs 24:30-34 paint the overgrown vineyard of the negligent worker whose folding of the hands breeds calamity like an armed bandit. Overcoming this inertia, Romans 12:11 commands believers never to be lacking in zeal, but fervent in spirit, actively serving the Lord.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Matthew 5:28 | Teaches that anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has committed adultery in heart. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:18 | Urges believers to flee sexual immorality, as the sexually immoral person sins against their own body. |
| Ephesians 4:26-27 | Warns not to let the sun go down on anger and give no opportunity to the devil. |
| James 1:19-20 | Instructs everyone to be slow to anger, because human anger does not produce God's righteousness. |
| Proverbs 19:15 | Warns that slothfulness casts into a deep sleep and an idle person will suffer hunger. |
| Proverbs 24:30-34 | Illustrates how neglect, folding hands, and laziness bring ruin and poverty like an armed robber. |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 | Instructs each believer to control their own body in holiness and honour, not in the passion of lust. |
| Colossians 3:8 | Commands believers to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from their mouths. |
| Proverbs 6:6-11 | Points the sluggard to the industrious ant, warning that laziness invites poverty like an armed robber. |
| Romans 12:11 | Commands believers not to be slothful in zeal, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. |
The True Remedy
All Sin Condemned and Atoned for in Christ
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life inChrist Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
This cornerstone text exposes sin's universal wage as death while setting forth eternal life in Christ as God's free gift.
The sobering verdict of Scripture centers on Romans 6:23, which declares that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Human religion frequently attempts to categorize offenses into manageable tiers, yet divine justice operates upon an uncompromising standard. As the prophet writes in Ezekiel 18:4, “the soul who sins shall die.” James 2:10 confirms this seamless moral reality, warning that whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point becomes guilty of all. Because Romans 3:23 establishes that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” every human heart stands condemned under the law’s righteous indictment, entirely incapable of cleansing itself from guilt.
Yet the gospel answers our condemnation with the unmerited grace of redemption. In 1 Peter 2:24, the apostle proclaims that Christ Himself “bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” God does not merely overlook moral failure; rather, as 2 Corinthians 5:21 announces, He made the sinless Son “to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Through this substitutionary sacrifice, 1 John 1:9 provides steadfast assurance that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Deliverance from sin results not merely in a changed legal standing, but in an entirely new walk. While Galatians 5:19-21 details the destructive works of the flesh—warning that those who make a practice of them shall not inherit the kingdom of God—the Holy Spirit breaks that dominion. Through regeneration, believers produce the radiant fruit detailed in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Christ alone conquers every deadly inclination, giving new life where sin once reigned.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Ezekiel 18:4 | States the divine principle that the soul who sins shall surely die. |
| James 2:10 | Explains that stumbling at even a single commandment renders an individual guilty of breaking all. |
| Romans 3:23 | Declares that all human beings have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. |
| Romans 6:23 | Pronounces that the wages of sin is death, but God's gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus. |
| 1 Peter 2:24 | Affirms that Christ Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree that we might live to righteousness. |
| 1 John 1:9 | Promises that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | Lists the works of the flesh, warning that those who practice such things will not inherit God's kingdom. |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | Presents the fruit of the Spirit as the supernatural divine antidote to sinful human nature. |
| 2 Corinthians 5:21 | Proclaims that God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin so we might become His righteousness. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| Exodus | 1 · Exodus 20:17 |
| Deuteronomy | 1 · Deuteronomy 25:16 |
| Psalms | 1 · Psalms 11:5 |
| Proverbs | 16 · Proverbs 6:16, Proverbs 6:17, Proverbs 6:18, Proverbs 6:19, Proverbs 3:32, Proverbs 11:20, Proverbs 17:15, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 14:30, Proverbs 23:20-21, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 19:15, Proverbs 24:30-34, Proverbs 6:6-11 |
| Ecclesiastes | 1 · Ecclesiastes 5:10 |
| Ezekiel | 1 · Ezekiel 18:4 |
| Obadiah | 1 · Obadiah 1:3 |
| Zechariah | 1 · Zechariah 8:17 |
| Matthew | 1 · Matthew 5:28 |
| Luke | 1 · Luke 12:15 |
| Romans | 3 · Romans 12:11, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23 |
| 1 Corinthians | 2 · 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:18 |
| 2 Corinthians | 1 · 2 Corinthians 5:21 |
| Galatians | 3 · Galatians 5:26, Galatians 5:19-21, Galatians 5:22-23 |
| Ephesians | 1 · Ephesians 4:26-27 |
| Philippians | 1 · Philippians 3:19 |
| Colossians | 2 · Colossians 3:5, Colossians 3:8 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 1 · 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 |
| 1 Timothy | 1 · 1 Timothy 6:10 |
| Hebrews | 1 · Hebrews 13:5 |
| James | 4 · James 4:6, James 3:16, James 1:19-20, James 2:10 |
| 1 Peter | 2 · 1 Peter 5:5, 1 Peter 2:24 |
| 1 John | 1 · 1 John 1:9 |
The story in order
- The Law Given (c. 1446 BC) · Exodus 20:17 · God's law explicitly forbids coveting, a form of greed.
- Wisdom Literature (c. 971-931 BC) · Proverbs 6:16 · Proverbs lists seven things detestable to God, including pride and lying.
- Prophetic Warnings (c. 520-480 BC) · Zechariah 8:17 · Zechariah condemns plotting evil and false oaths, which the Lord hates.
- Jesus Teaches (c. AD 28-30) · Matthew 5:28 · Jesus equates lustful looking with adultery of the heart.
- Jesus Teaches (c. AD 29-30) · Luke 12:15 · Jesus warns against greed, stating life is more than possessions.
- Apostle's Instruction (c. AD 55) · 1 Corinthians 6:18 · Paul urges fleeing sexual immorality, a sin against one's own body.
- Apostle's Instruction (c. AD 55) · 1 Corinthians 13:4 · Love is defined by its absence of envy and arrogance.
- Apostle's Instruction (c. AD 48-55) · Galatians 5:19-21 · The works of the flesh are listed, including various vices.
- Apostle's Instruction (c. AD 60-62) · Colossians 3:5 · Covetousness is identified as idolatry and to be put to death.
- Apostle's Instruction (c. AD 62-64) · 1 Peter 5:5 · Humility is commanded because God opposes the proud.
- Apostle's Instruction (c. AD 90-95) · 1 John 1:9 · Confession of sins leads to cleansing and forgiveness.
God's Detestation of Sin
| Detestable Disposition | Biblical Basis | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| A heart that plots wicked schemes | Feet that run swiftly toward evil mischief | Proverbs 6:18 |
| A false witness who breathes lies | One who sows discord among brothers | Proverbs 6:19 |
| Dishonest or unrighteous behavior | The devious person | |
| The crooked in heart | Those who are proud in heart | |
| Lovers of violence | Those who plot evil against neighbors |
Pride's Downfall
| Pride's Characteristic | Consequence | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Pride goes before destruction | A haughty spirit precedes a fall | Proverbs 16:18 |
| Pride of heart deceived Edom | Belief that no one can bring them down | Obadiah 1:3 |
| God opposes the proud | Grace is given to the humble |
The Wages of Sin vs. God's Gift
| Sin's Consequence | God's Provision | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| The soul who sins shall surely die | All have sinned and fall short of God's glory | |
| Christ bore our sins in His body | We might live to righteousness | 1 Peter 2:24 |
| Confess sins for cleansing | God is faithful and just to cleanse us | 1 John 1:9 |
| Practicing works of the flesh leads to not inheriting the kingdom | The fruit of the Spirit is the antidote to sin | |
| Christ, who knew no sin, became sin | We might become the righteousness of God in Him | 2 Corinthians 5:21 |
Key words
- Pride (ga'avah, גַּאֲוָה)
- An excessive belief in one's own abilities or importance; arrogance. · Proverbs 16:18
- Lying Tongue (sheqer, שֶׁקֶר)
- Speaking falsehoods, deceitfully or maliciously. · Proverbs 6:17
- Greed (pleonexia, πλεονεξία)
- An intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. · Colossians 3:5
- Gluttony (koilia, κοιλία)
- Habitual greed or excess in eating. · Philippians 3:19
- Lust (epithymia, ἐπιθυμία)
- Intense sexual desire or craving. · Matthew 5:28
- Wrath (orge, ὀργή)
- Extreme anger; fury. · Ephesians 4:26
- Sloth (argos, ἀργός)
- Reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness. · Romans 12:11
- Envy (zelos, ζῆλος)
- A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck. · Galatians 5:26
The traditional list of seven deadly sins functions well as a diagnostic mirror, but Scripture’s sobering verdict is that all sin leads to eternal death apart from divine intervention. We are not saved by curating a moral checklist or managing our vices through sheer will, but by fleeing to Jesus Christ, who bore the full penalty of our pride, greed, lust, and wrath. In Him, believers receive total pardon, a transformed heart, and the Holy Spirit’s power to walk in righteousness.
48 passages, each cited once.
How the major Christian traditions read this
All major Christian traditions agree that pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth are serious sins condemned throughout Scripture, and that the wages of all unrepented sin is eternal death apart from God's mercy in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23; Proverbs 6:16-19).
Catholic
The Church distinguishes between mortal and venial sins (1 John 5:16-17). We refer to pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth as the capital sins because they are root vices from which other transgressions spring (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1866). A capital sin can become a mortal sin if committed with grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent, entirely severing sanctifying grace and requiring restoration through the sacrament of Penance (John 20:23). Pride remains the chief root of all rebellion against God (Sirach 10:13).
Scripture: 1 John 5:16-17, John 20:23, Romans 6:23
Orthodox
The Holy Fathers, such as Evagrius and John Cassian, identified eight primary passions or thoughts (logismoi) that wage war against the soul: gluttony, fornication, avarice, sorrow, wrath, acedia (sloth), vainglory, and pride. Rather than a rigid legal code, we view these sins as spiritual illnesses of our fallen nature that separate us from God's uncreated light. Sin is healed through ascetic watchfulness (nepsis), prayer, repentance, and participation in the Holy Mysteries (James 1:14-15; 1 Peter 5:8).
Scripture: James 1:14-15, 1 Peter 5:8, Romans 6:23
Lutheran
We acknowledge that the seven vices accurately describe deep manifestations of human depravity and the broken flesh. However, we reject any qualitative distinction that implies some sins do not merit God's eternal wrath. Scripture teaches that all inherited sin and every transgression of God's holy Law condemns us (Augsburg Confession 2; Romans 3:20; James 2:10). We must not use any list to minimize smaller sins; rather, the Law drives us directly to Christ for full forgiveness by faith alone.
Scripture: Romans 3:20, James 2:10, Romans 6:23
Reformed & Presbyterian
We view the seven sins as a historically helpful pastoral diagnostic for identifying human depravity, but we emphasize that every single sin is deadly in itself. The Westminster Confession (6.6) teaches that every sin, original or actual, transgresses God's law and brings guilt upon the sinner, deserving God's wrath and curse (Galatians 3:10; Ezekiel 18:4). We must not elevate humanly constructed catalogues above Scripture itself, which condemns all unrighteousness while exalting the sovereign grace of God in Christ.
Scripture: Galatians 3:10, Ezekiel 18:4, Colossians 3:5
Anglican & Episcopal
Our tradition draws on both patristic wisdom and Reformation convictions. Article 16 of the Thirty-Nine Articles acknowledges that deadly sins may be willingly committed after Baptism, yet assures us that God grants repentance and pardon to those who turn back to Him (1 John 1:9). While the historic list helps order self-examination and confession, we affirm that our sinful inclination makes us entirely dependent upon the merits of Christ rather than moral scorekeeping (Romans 7:18-25).
Scripture: 1 John 1:9, Romans 7:18-25, Romans 6:23
Baptist
We recognize the seven vices as ungodly attitudes and behaviors condemned throughout the Bible (Colossians 3:5-8). Yet because Scripture is our sole authority for faith and practice, we do not treat this extra-biblical list as an official classification of sin. God's Word declares that whoever stumbles at just one point of the Law is guilty of all (James 2:10). Every sin brings eternal spiritual death, and deliverance is found solely in repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Scripture: James 2:10, Colossians 3:5-8, Romans 6:23
Methodist & Wesleyan
We value the historic catalogue as a mirror showing how sin corrupts the inner affections of the heart (Matthew 15:19). John Wesley warned believers that willful sin severs our fellowship with God and grieves the Holy Spirit (Methodist Articles 12; Hebrews 10:26). We believe that through God's sanctifying grace, the Spirit can cleanse us from all inbred sin and empower us to live in holiness and perfect love, overcoming every deadly vice (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Scripture: Matthew 15:19, Hebrews 10:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Pentecostal & Charismatic
We see the traditional seven sins as classic works of the flesh that war against the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21). While recognizing their historical use, we focus on the supernatural battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Sins like pride, lust, and wrath give a foothold to demonic oppression (Ephesians 4:26-27). Freedom is not attained through human discipline alone, but through the baptism and ongoing power of the Holy Spirit, who produces righteous fruit.
Scripture: Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 4:26-27, Romans 8:13
Non-denominational & Evangelical
We treat the seven deadly sins as a memorable, practical framework from church history, but we test everything directly by the Bible. Scripture makes it plain that all sin falls short of God's glory and carries the sentence of death (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23). God hates pride and discord just as surely as overt wickedness (Proverbs 6:16-19). Our focus remains on preachng the cross and living under the lordship of Jesus through daily obedience.
Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Proverbs 6:16-19
Where they differ
Whether sins are mortal or venial
- Catholic
- Distinguishes mortal sins that kill grace from venial sins that weaken it.
- Orthodox
- Views sins primarily as spiritual disease needing healing, not rigid legal tiers.
- Lutheran
- Rejects mortal-venial division, affirming every sin merits eternal damnation under Law.
- Reformed & Presbyterian
- Affirms every sin deserves God's wrath and eternal death apart from Christ.
- Anglican & Episcopal
- Rejects scholastic distinctions while recognizing some sins carry greater moral consequence.
- Baptist
- Holds all sin is equally fatal before God's holy Law.
- Methodist & Wesleyan
- Teaches all willful sin endangers salvation unless pardoned through repentance.
- Pentecostal & Charismatic
- Considers all willful sin a work of the flesh requiring repentance.
- Non-denominational & Evangelical
- Maintains that every sin separates from God without distinct theological categories.
Scripture: 1 John 5:16-17, James 2:10
The authority of the seven-vice catalogue
- Catholic
- Affirms it as authoritative Catholic moral theology defining capital vices.
- Orthodox
- Follows the ascetic tradition of eight primary passions handed down by Fathers.
- Lutheran
- Values it only as human wisdom subordinate to the clear Law.
- Reformed & Presbyterian
- Uses it as an uninspired diagnostic subordinate to biblical texts.
- Anglican & Episcopal
- Retains it as traditional pastoral aid for examining the conscience.
- Baptist
- Relies strictly on canonical lists and texts rather than human tradition.
- Methodist & Wesleyan
- Employs it practically to expose heart motives needing entire sanctification.
- Pentecostal & Charismatic
- Subordinates the list to the biblical battle of flesh against Spirit.
- Non-denominational & Evangelical
- Treats it purely as historical insight, testing everything by Scripture alone.
Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19, Galatians 5:19-21
Your pastor can tell you where your church stands.
Scripture cited
- Proverbs 6:16-19
- Proverbs 8:13