Reference: Heredity
Hastings
HEREDITY, which may be defined as 'the hereditary transmission of qualities, or even acquirements,' so far as it is a scientific theory, is not anticipated in Holy Scripture. That men are 'made of one' (Ac 17:26 RV) is a fact of experience, which, in common with all literature, the Bible assumes. The unsophisticated are content to argue from like to like, that is, by analogy. But the modern doctrine of heredity, rooted as it is in the science of biology, involves the recognition of a principle or law according to which characters are transmitted from parents to offspring. Of this there is no trace in the Bible. Theology is therefore not directly interested in the differences between Weismann and the older exponents of Evolution.
1. In the OT, which is the basis of the doctrine of the NT, there is no dogmatic purpose, and therefore no attempt to account for the fact that 'all flesh' has 'corrupted his way upon the earth' (Ge 6:12), and that 'there is none that doeth good' (Ps 14:1). A perfectly consistent point of view is not to be expected. Not a philosophical people, the Hebrews start from the obvious fact of the unity of the race in the possession of common flesh and blood (Job 14:1; 15:14), the son being begotten after the image of the father (Ge 5:3; cf. Heb 2:14). This is more especially emphasized in the unity of the race of Abraham, that 'Israel after the flesh' (1Co 10:18), whose were the fathers and the promises (Ro 9:4-5). But the Bible never commits itself to a theory of the generation or procreation of the spirit, which is apparently given by God to each individual (Ge 2:7; 7:22; Job 33:4) constitutes the personality ('life' '/2-Samuel/1/9/type/mstc'>2Sa 1:9, 'soul' Nu 5:6), and is withdrawn at death (Ec 12:7). This is the source of Ezekiel's emphasis on individual responsibility (Eze 18:4), a criticism of the proverb concerning sour grapes (v. 2), which was made to rest on an admitted principle of the Mosaic covenant, the visitation upon the children of the fathers' sins (Ex 20:5). This principle involves corporate guilt; which, though sometimes reduced to a pardonable weakness inseparable from flesh (Ps 78:39; 103:14; Job 10:9), and therefore suggestive of heredity, yet, as involving Divine wrath and punishment, cannot be regarded as a palliation of transgression (Ex 34:7; Ps 7:11; Ro 1:18). Sin in the OT is disobedience, a breach of personal relations, needing from God forgiveness (Ex 34:6-7; Isa 43:25); and cannot therefore be explained on the principle of hereditary transmission. Moreover, the unity of Israel is as much one of external status as of physical nature, of the inheritance of the firstborn no less than of community in flesh and blood (Ex 4:22; cf. Ge 25:23; 27:35). Similarly Adam is represented as degraded to a lower status by his sin, as cast out of the garden and begetting children in banishment from God's presence.
2. Such are the materials from which NT theology works out its doctrine of original sin, not a transmitted tendency or bias towards evil, but a submission to the power of the devil which may be predicated of the whole race. [See art. Sin.]
J. G. Simpson.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then the LORD God shope man, even of the mold of the earth, and breathed into his face the breath of life. So man was made a living soul.
And when Adam was a hundred and thirty years old, he begat a son after his likeness and similitude: and called his name Seth.
And God looked upon the earth, and lo it was corrupt: for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
so that all that had the breath of life in the nostrils of it, throughout all that was on dry land, died.
And the LORD said unto her, "There are two manner of people in thy womb, and two nations shall spring out of thy bowels, and the one nation shall be mightier than the other and the eldest shall be servant unto the younger."
And he said, "Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing."
And tell Pharaoh, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: Israel is mine eldest son,
See that thou neither bow thyself unto them neither serve them: for I, the LORD thy God, am a jealous God, and visit the sin of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me:
And when the LORD walked before him, he cried, "LORD, LORD God full of compassion and mercy, which art not lightly angry but abundant in mercy and truth, and keepest mercy in store for thousands, and forgivest wickedness, trespass and sin - for there is no man innocent before thee - and visitest the wickedness of the fathers upon the children and upon children's children, even unto the third and fourth generation."
and keepest mercy in store for thousands, and forgivest wickedness, trespass and sin - for there is no man innocent before thee - and visitest the wickedness of the fathers upon the children and upon children's children, even unto the third and fourth generation."
"Speak unto the children of Israel, whether it be man or woman, 'When they have sinned any manner of sin which a man doeth wherewith a man trespasseth against the LORD, so that the soul hath done amiss:
And he said unto me, 'Come on me and slay me: For anguish is come upon me and my life is yet all in me.'
O remember, I beseech thee, how that thou madest me of the mould of the earth, and shalt bring me into dust again.
Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of divers miseries.
What is man, that he should be clean? What hath he, which is born of a woman, whereby he might be known to be righteous?
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the almighty hath given me my life.
God is a righteous judge, strong and patient; and God is provoked every day.
{To the Chanter, a Psalm of David} The fool hath said in his heart, "Tush, there is no God." They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings; there is none that doeth good, no not one.
For he considered that they were but flesh; even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
For he knoweth whereof we be made, he remembereth that we are but dust;
Or dust be turned again unto earth from whence it came, and or the spirit return unto God, which gave it.
Whereas I yet am even he only, that for mine own self's sake do away thine offenses, and forget thy sins: so that I will never think upon them.
Behold, all souls are mine. Like as the father is mine, so is the son mine also. The soul that sinneth, shall die.
and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath assigned before: how long time, and also the ends of their inhabitation.
For the wrath of God appeareth from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness.
Which are the Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants and the law that was given and the service of God, and the promises, whose also are the fathers, and they of whom; as concerning the flesh; Christ came: which is God over all things, blessed forever. Amen.
Behold Israel which walketh carnally. Are not they which eat of the sacrifice, partakers of the altar?
Forasmuch, then, as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them, for to put down through death him that had lordship over death: that is to say, the devil.