Book II Chapter 1

Patterned after the Apostle's Creed, Calvin moves from our knowledge of God to our knowledge of human beings. So, what do we know about human beings?

We're sinful. Why are we sinful? Because Adam blew it, of course. But, what was the nature of Adam's sin? Augustine thought that pride is at the root of all sin. Calvin agrees, but adds to it. He says that pride and disobedience is at the root of all sin. Not only did man's ambition get him into trouble, but acting counter to God's revealed will (word) got Adam into hot water.

Of course, any self-respecting Christian realizes that Adam's original sin was passed down by 'hereditary corruption.'

Hey! Wait a minute! Why should I pay for something Adam did? That is not fair. 

You sound like that rat bastard Pelagius, Calvin says (BOOO! HISSS!).

Pelagius thought that original sin was, in fact, not passed down via hereditary corruption. Instead, we are all culpable for our own sin and get ourselves into our own hot water. Pelagius was, of course wrong.

According to Calvin, Pelagius was wrong for two reasons: 1) Because he was friggin Pelagius, and thus incapable of being right. 2) Because of the testimony of scripture. To this day, Calvinist still use the same argument structure.

So, we could safely walk away from the subject, but here come the sniveling Pelagians return with their complaints: What about cute little children? Are children depraved and corrupt? Do children pop out of the womb on the fast track to Hell?

Calvin answers in true pastoral style: Of course, they are going to Hell! They are descendants of Adam aren't they? 'Guilt is from nature, whereas sanctification is from supernatural grace.'

This is hard for people to believe and a lot of us may be willing to agree with the Pelagians. But, I would argue that you have never met my children, who did, indeed, emanate from the womb as wretched, sinful, and horrible.

Ok, let's wrap it up with one last thing. Man's sinful state is universal in culpability - everybody is corrupted by sin. It is also overwhelming in particular - it corrupts every part of an individual.

Have a nice day, wretch.