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Wellsprings
christian-anthropology-ethicsfeatured in 30 works

Concupiscence

The pull toward sin that lingers in fallen human nature — but is it itself a sin?

Concupiscence is the disordered desire or inclination to sin that remains in fallen human nature, a theme developed especially by Augustine. The traditions differ over its status after baptism: Catholic teaching holds that concupiscence remaining in the baptized is not itself sin, though it inclines toward sin, while much Protestant teaching regards this remaining disorder as truly sinful. The disagreement bears on how each tradition understands grace and ongoing struggle.

How it traveled

  1. James
    Jerusalem · 62
    explains
  2. 1 Peter
    Rome · 64
    explains
  3. 2 Peter
    Rome · 64
    explains
  4. Romans
    Corinth · 67
    explains
  5. 1 Corinthians
    Ephesus · 67
    explains
  6. 1 Timothy
    Ephesus · 67
    explains
  7. Ephesians
    Rome · 67
    explains
  8. 2 Timothy
    Rome · 67
    applies
  9. Galatians
    Ephesus · 67
    explains
  10. Mark
    Rome · 68
    explains
  11. Matthew
    Antioch · 80
    explains
  12. Jude
    Jerusalem · 90
    explains
  13. The Instructions of Commodianus.
    — · 220
    explains
  14. On Fasting.
    — · 220
    explains
  15. On Exhortation to Chastity.
    — · 220
    explains
  16. The Shows, or De Spectaculis.
    — · 220
    explains
  17. On Monogamy.
    — · 220
    explains
  18. On Modesty.
    — · 220
    explains
  19. On Patience.
    — · 220
    explains
  20. On the Veiling of Virgins.
    — · 220
    explains
  21. A Treatise on the Soul.
    — · 220
    explains
  22. The Church History of Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  23. Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene Hymns
    Edessa · 373
    explains
  24. The Letters
    Caesarea (Cappadocia) · 379
    explains
  25. On the Making of Man
    Nyssa · 395
    explains
  26. On the Soul and the Resurrection
    Nyssa · 395
    explains
  27. Concerning Repentance
    Milan · 397
    explains
  28. Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose
    Milan · 397
    explains
  29. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  30. Homilies on First Corinthians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains

Key passages(20)

On Marriage and Concupiscence — On Marriage and Concupiscence — Concupiscence Remains After Baptism, Just as Languor Does After Recovery from Disease; Concupiscence is Diminished in Persons of Advancing Years, and Increased in the Incontinent.↗explains

On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants — Book II — Concupiscence, How Far in Us; The Baptized are Not Injured by Concupiscence, But Only by Consent Therewith.↗explains

A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants — Book II — Guilt May Be Taken Away But Concupiscence Remain.↗explains

A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo

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On Marriage and Concupiscence — Book II — Adam’s Sin is Derived from Him to Every One Who is Born Even of Regenerate Parents; The Example of the Olive Tree and the Wild Olive.↗explains

On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo

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On Marriage and Concupiscence — Book II — Lust is a Disease; The Word ‘Passion’ In the Ecclesiastical Sense.↗explains

On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo

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On Marriage and Concupiscence — Book II — The Pelagians are Not Ashamed to Eulogize Concupiscence, Although They are Ashamed to Mention Its Name.↗explains

On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo

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On Marriage and Concupiscence — On Marriage and Concupiscence — How Concupiscence Remains in the Baptized in Act, When It Has Passed Away as to Its Guilt.↗explains

On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo

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On Marriage and Concupiscence — On Marriage and Concupiscence — The Evil Desires of Concupiscence; We Ought to Wish that They May Not Be.↗explains

On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo

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On Marriage and Concupiscence — On Marriage and Concupiscence — This Disease of Concupiscence in Marriage is Not to Be a Matter of Will, But of Necessity; What Ought to Be the Will of Believers in the Use of Matrimony; Who is to Be Regarded as Using, and Not Succumbing To, the Evil of Concupiscence; How the Holy Fathers of the Old Testament Formerly Used Wives.↗explains

On Marriage and Concupiscence · Augustine of Hippo

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Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) — Question. 81 - OF THE POWER OF SENSUALITY (THREE ARTICLES) — part 2↗explains

Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) — Question. 27 - OF THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN (SIX ARTICLES) — part 3↗explains

Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas

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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians — Book I — In What Sense Lust is Called Sin in the Regenerate.↗explains

A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians — Book I — Many Without Crime, None Without Sin.↗explains

A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians — Book I — Whether There Could Be Sensual Appetite in Paradise Before the Fall.↗explains

A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness — Conclusion of the Work. In the Regenerate It is Not Concupiscence, But Consent, Which is Sin.↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on Nature and Grace — Paul Asserts that the Flesh is Contrary Even in the Baptized.↗explains

A Treatise on Nature and Grace · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin — On Original Sin. — Even the Children of the Regenerate Born in Sin. The Effect of Baptism.↗explains

A Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants — Book I — How Far Sin is Done Away in Infants by Baptism, Also in Adults, and What Advantage Results Therefrom.↗explains

A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter — The Passage in Romans.↗explains

A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter · Augustine of Hippo

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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church — CHAPTER 15. - OF BAPTISM. — part 5↗explains

Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin

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