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/nsb'>2Sa 1:9, 'soul' Nu 5:6), and is withdrawn at death (Ec 12:7).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
Jehovah God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The man became a living being.
When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
God saw how corrupt the earth had become. All the people on earth had corrupted their ways.
Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died.
Jehovah said: Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger.
Isaac responded: Your brother deceived me. He has taken your blessing.
Say to Pharaoh: 'Thus says Jehovah, Israel is my son, my firstborn.
Do not worship them or serve them. I, Jehovah your God, am a God demanding exclusive devotion. (I do not tolerate rivals.) I will not share your affection with any other god. I punish children for their parents' sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.
Jehovah then passed in front of him and called out: I, Jehovah, am a God who is full of compassion and pity. I am not easily angered and show great love and faithfulness. I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin. But I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their fathers.
I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin. But I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their fathers.
Tell the Israelites: 'If you do something wrong to another person, you have been unfaithful to Jehovah. When you realize your guilt,
Then he said: 'Come here and kill me! I am badly wounded and about to die.'
Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?
Man born of woman, lives a short life that is full of trouble.
What is man, that he could be pure? Or he who is born of woman, that he could be righteous?
The Spirit of God has made me. The Breath of the Almighty gives me life.
God is a righteous judge and a God who has indignation every day.
([Psalm of David]) The fool says in his heart: There is no God (Jehovah) (Psalm 10:4). They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. No one does good things.
He remembered that they were only flesh and blood, a breeze that blows and does not return.
For he knows our conception and he remembers that we are dust.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was. The spirit (life) will return to God who gave it.
I alone am the one who is going to wipe away your rebellious actions for my own sake. I will not remember your sins anymore.
The life of every person belongs to me. The life of the father as well as the life of the son is mine. The person who sins will die.
From one person he made every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. He determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation.
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
They are Israelites and the adoption belongs to them. They have the glory of the covenants. The law was given to them along with the service and promises. The forefathers belong to them from whom came the Christ according to the flesh. God who is over all is blessed forever. Amen.
Is physical Israel the ones who eat the sacrifices, the partakers of the altar?
Since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same things, that through death he might destroy him that had the power to cause death, [Satan] the Devil.