where did the doctrine of original sin come from
Original sin
The concept of original sin was first alluded to in the 2nd century by Irenaeus , Bishop of Lyon in his controversy with certain dualist Gnostics . Other church fathers such as Augustine also developed the doctrine , seeing it as based on the New Testament teaching of Paul the Apostle ( Romans 5 : 12 -- 21 and 1 Corinthians 15 : 22 ) and the Old Testament verse of Psalms 51 : 5 . Tertullian , Cyprian , Ambrose and Ambrosiaster considered that humanity shares in Adam 's sin , transmitted by human generation . Augustine 's formulation of original sin was popular among Protestant reformers , such as Martin Luther and John Calvin , who equated original sin with concupiscence ( or `` hurtful desire '' ) , affirming that it persisted even after baptism and completely destroyed freedom . The Jansenist movement , which the Catholic Church declared to be heretical , also maintained that original sin destroyed freedom of will . Instead the Catholic Church declares `` Baptism , by imparting the life of Christ 's grace , erases original sin and turns a man back towards God , but the consequences for nature , weakened and inclined to evil , persist in man and summon him to spiritual battle . '' `` Weakened and diminished by Adam 's fall , free will is yet not destroyed in the race '' 
The concept of original sin was first alluded to in the 2nd century by Irenaeus , Bishop of Lyon in his controversy with certain dualist Gnostics . Other church fathers such as Augustine also developed the doctrine , seeing it as based on the New Testament teaching of Paul the Apostle ( Romans 5 : 12 -- 21 and 1 Corinthians 15 : 22 ) and the Old Testament verse of Psalms 51 : 5 . Tertullian , Cyprian , Ambrose and Ambrosiaster considered that humanity shares in Adam 's sin , transmitted by human generation . Augustine 's formulation of original sin was popular among Protestant reformers , such as Martin Luther and John Calvin , who equated original sin with concupiscence ( or `` hurtful desire '' ) , affirming that it persisted even after baptism and completely destroyed freedom . The Jansenist movement , which the Catholic Church declared to be heretical , also maintained that original sin destroyed freedom of will . Instead the Catholic Church declares `` Baptism , by imparting the life of Christ 's grace , erases original sin and turns a man back towards God , but the consequences for nature , weakened and inclined to evil , persist in man and summon him to spiritual battle . '' `` Weakened and diminished by Adam 's fall , free will is yet not destroyed in the race ''
Augustine also developed the doctrine, seeing it as based on the New Testament teaching of Paul the Apostle. Augustine's formulation of original sin was popular among Protestant reformers, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, who equated original sin with concupiscence, affirming that it persisted even after baptism and completely destroyed freedom.
Other church fathers such as Augustine also developed the doctrine , seeing it as based on the New Testament teaching of Paul the Apostle ( Romans 5 : 12 -- 21 and 1 Corinthians 15 : 22 ) and the Old Testament verse of Psalms 51 : 5 . Augustine 's formulation of original sin was popular among Protestant reformers , such as Martin Luther and John Calvin , who equated original sin with concupiscence ( or `` hurtful desire '' ) , affirming that it persisted even after baptism and completely destroyed freedom .