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Sin - Imputed Sin


From the Latin word imputare, which means “to reckon,” “to charge to ones account.”[1] Imputation relates to how every person is charged with sin. The whole debate of imputation of sin revolves around the meaning of Romans 5:12, particularly around the words “all sinned.” About those two words Charles Ryrie states, “Do they mean that all are sinners (which is essentially saying that all have a sin nature) or do they mean that in some way all mankind sinned when Adam sinned? If the latter, then this is imputed sin.”[2]

The two most widely held interpretations are:
(1) The Federal view which in essence states that sin is imputed to all men because of Adam’s sin. It was Adam alone who sinned but all men are affected. Sin and guilt are imputed which result in total depravity. Paul Enns states, “Through the one sin of Adam, sin and death are imputed to all humanity because all humanity was represented in Adam.”[3] This view was held and taught by theologians such as Charles Hodge, Louis Berkhof, and Oliver Buswell. This is the view I hold.
(2) The Augustinian view states that sin is imputed to all men because of Adam’s sin. All men sinned in Adam, sin and guilt is imputed and the result is total depravity. This view teaches that all humanity participated in Adam’s sin. The entire human race was “seminally present” (cf. Heb. 7:9-10) in Adam when he sinned, therefore the entire human race participated in the sin. Since all men participated in the sin, all men are guilty and charged as such by God.



[1] R. K. Johnston, “Imputation,” in Walter A. Elwell, ed., Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984), p. 554.
[2] Ryrie, Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody, 1972), p. 111.
[3] Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody, 1989), p. 312.

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