Original Sin or the Evil Inclination?

What is the difference between the belief that mankind carries within him the “original sin” with the accompanying need for a blood sacrifice to absolve or cover up the sins that come because of it, and the Tanakh (Old Testament) view that we have the option of free choice to do good or to give in to the evil urge which is encapsulated in mankind? Considering all the generations of mankind since the Fall in the Garden and the passing on of evil tendencies, is it even possible for us today to resist temptation?

Taking seriously what the Bible says, does the inherent tendency toward evil indeed dominate or control mankind?

The verse in question seems to be Psalms 51:7 (hebrew “Tanakh” scriptures) or 51:5 in Old Testament scriptures, discarding as proof the New Testament, since it is not common ground:

הֵן־בְּעָוֹון חֹולָלְתִּי וּבְחֵטְא יֶחֱמַתְנִי אִמִּי׃

[Psa 51:5 ESV] “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

So, yes! That does sound like the Christian version of being born into sin. But wait.

What are some other things that we can throw into the pot?

The very first accounting of anger and where it led:

Cain and Abel, what really happened?

Gen. 4:3-7 Koren Tanakh:

“And in process of time it came to pass, that Qayin brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to YHVH.

And Hevel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat parts thereof. And YHVH had respect to Hevel and to his offering: but to Qayin and to his offering He had not respect. And Qayin was very angry, and his face fell.

And YHVH said to Qayin, Why art thou angry? and why art thou crestfallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin crouches at the door, and to thee shall be his desire. Yet thou mayst rule over him.”

Genesis 4:3-7 JPS Tanakh:

“In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to יהוה from the fruit of the soil; and Abel, for his part, brought the choicest of the firstlings of his flock. יהוה paid heed to Abel and his offering, but to Cain and his offering [God] paid no heed. Cain was much distressed and his face fell. And יהוה said to Cain, ‘Why are you distressed,
And why is your face fallen? Surely, if you do right, There is uplift.
But if you do not do right, Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you, Yet you can be its master.’”

Gen 4:3-7 ESV (Old Testament)

3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

Note: All these versions indicate that when the evil desire arises “you must” or “you can” rule over it. There is no indication that man is powerless over evil. The following commentary for Sforno sheds some light:

Commentary:

אתה תמשול בו, it is within your power to overcome the power of the evil urge thanks to the צלם אלוקים, the divine image with which you have been provided at birth. This conforms to our sages in Sukkah 52 who have taught that were it not for this צלם אלוקים, which represents G’d’s assistance against the evil urge, there would be no way man could cope with temptation. This is what David meant in Psalms 37,33 ה’ לא יעזבנו בידו ולא ירשיענו בהשפטו, “YHVH will not abandon him to his power; He will not let him be condemned in judgment.” Sforno.

Psalm 37:31-33:

“The Tora of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall falter. The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. YHVH will not leave him in his hand, nor allow him to be condemned when he is judged.”

The accounting of the story of Cain and his downfall is the first actual sin recorded in the Bible, other than Adam and Eve’s disobedience at that wrong tree. It is significant that G-d took this moment to teach us something. The sin of Adam was an assertion of his free will in conflict with that of his Creator. The next time, we see an overwhelming tendency to resentment and a corresponding reaction to what Cain apparently thought was injustice. For whatever reason the Creator decided to honor Abel and reject Cain’s offering. Was it a teaching for mankind? Was it to provoke Cain to react and see if he could control himself? Was it to teach about a future acceptable sacrifice? The Eternal’s ways are a mystery and looking as deeply as we can, we often do not understand. Was it that Cain felt “entitled” because he was a used to getting his way? Or was Abel often coddled and Cain held responsible by his parents? Was Cain jealous? Had he just had enough?

Sometimes we really don’t get it when things don’t seem to work out fairly. We want answers and sometimes we are left wondering and questioning why. How about the book of Job? Job complained fiercely that he was not treated justly. He dealt directly with G-d which was his outstanding grace.

And in the end he was not found guilty, but rather his self righteous, know it all friends were condemned and told to take a sacrifice to Job that he might offer it for them. But what was the trial all about anyway?

And what was the sacrifice of Isaac all about? Apparently Sarah did not live long after the event, in fact she was found in a different place where she died shortly after. See the story. Did she find out and run back to her relatives, thinking that Abraham had lost his mind and her only son was going to die? But looking at the story, it was all about Abraham’s trust that everything would work out for his and his descendant’s good. Was his trust really all that important? Did it teach Isaac anything? And how about us today? Do we learn anything?

It is easy to sweep responsibility under the rug of original sin and continually repent of a sin that has finally become so strong that it is as if many cords have attached themselves to us. The repetition of a sin or may we say, “habit” makes that tendency harder each time to resist. It becomes an addiction which without the צלם אלוקים inherent image of G-d upon man’s soul, would prove his demise into the bottomless pit of self and evil. Yet precisely at the very beginning of the first offspring of those who chose to accept the evil inclination along with the good inside themselves—we see Cain’s inborn tendency to hate and to react, acting upon him and the Creator coming up to the plate to show us a better way, the only way to overcome. To take hold of His strength.

א֚וֹ יַֽחֲזֵ֣ק בְּמָעוּזִּ֔י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה שָׁל֖וֹם לִ֑י שָׁל֖וֹם יַעֲשֶׂה־לִּֽי׃

“Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” Isa 27:5

There is no easy answer, but the Torah sets the standard for what YHVH wills for us. If we take Him at His Word—that He will strengthen His own image within us (the צלם אלוקים), we will win over the evil inclination that likes to bind us in the hopeless condition that the wicked find themselves. It may take time, but we will conquer.

Yours for grace to grow that good image inside us…

Ariella Tiqvah