{
  "id": "dict_005307",
  "term": "Sinner",
  "slug": "sinner",
  "letter": "S",
  "entry_type": "biblical_theological_term",
  "entry_family": "worldview_philosophy",
  "depth_profile": "deep_plus",
  "short_definition": "A sinner is a person who stands guilty before God because of sin in thought, word, deed, and inward nature, and who therefore needs God’s mercy and grace.",
  "simple_one_line": "A sinner is a person guilty of sin and in need of God’s mercy.",
  "tooltip_text": "A person guilty of sin and standing in need of God’s mercy.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Sin",
    "Hamartiology",
    "Repentance",
    "Justification",
    "Grace",
    "Regeneration"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Atonement",
    "Original sin",
    "Transgression",
    "Righteousness",
    "Salvation"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Sinner refers to a person guilty of sin and standing in need of God’s mercy.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A biblical term for a person who sins and who stands accountable to God, whether in an outward act or in a deeper condition of moral rebellion.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Scripture uses the term for those under sin and needing repentance.",
    "In the Bible, all people apart from Christ are sinners by nature and practice.",
    "The term is therefore central to the gospel, which offers forgiveness and restoration through Jesus Christ."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "In biblical teaching, a sinner is not merely someone who commits isolated wrong acts but a person corrupted by sin and accountable to God. Scripture presents all people as sinners by nature and practice, apart from Jesus Christ, and therefore in need of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through him.",
  "description_academic_full": "A sinner is a human being who is guilty of sin before God and alienated from him because of both sinful nature and sinful actions. In Scripture, sin is not defined mainly by social offense or personal failure but by rebellion against God’s character, law, and rightful authority. The Bible teaches that all people, except the sinless Lord Jesus Christ, are sinners and therefore stand in need of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The term should be explained first as a biblical and doctrinal category within anthropology and hamartiology rather than as a philosophy or worldview label. It is an essential gospel term because the good news of Christ makes sense only when human sin, guilt, and need for redemption are taken seriously.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Scripture uses sinner language to describe those who violate God’s will and stand under his just judgment, while also showing that sinners may be called to repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. The New Testament especially highlights Jesus’ mission to call sinners to repentance and to save the lost.",
  "background_historical_context": "In Jewish and early Christian usage, sinner could function as a moral and covenantal category, sometimes marking people who were publicly known as unrighteous or socially excluded. The New Testament broadens the term by applying it to the universal human condition, not merely to notorious offenders.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Second Temple Jewish usage often contrasted the righteous with sinners, especially in discussions of covenant fidelity, repentance, and final judgment. Jesus’ table fellowship with sinners and his call to repentance challenged self-righteous boundary markers while still affirming the reality of sin and the need for mercy.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Romans 3:9–23",
    "Psalm 51:5",
    "Mark 2:17",
    "Luke 5:32",
    "1 John 1:8–10"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Ecclesiastes 7:20",
    "Isaiah 53:6",
    "Romans 5:8",
    "1 Timothy 1:15",
    "Luke 19:10"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The biblical idea is expressed with Hebrew and Greek terms for one who sins or is sinful, especially words built on the root idea of missing the mark or transgressing God’s standard.",
  "theological_significance": "The term is central to hamartiology, anthropology, repentance, justification, and the gospel itself. It clarifies why grace is necessary and why salvation must come from God rather than human merit.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "As a moral category, sinner concerns human accountability, culpability, and the reality that people do not merely make mistakes but can stand in rebellion against a holy Creator. Christian use of the term must be governed by Scripture rather than by shifting cultural standards of self-expression or moral relativism.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not reduce sinner to a mere social label, insult, or psychological category. Do not deny the Bible’s teaching that sin is both an act and a condition. Do not use the term to excuse cruelty, pride, or ungenerous judgment toward others.",
  "major_views_note": "Historic Christian traditions agree that sinners need divine mercy and forgiveness. Traditions differ in emphasis on inherited corruption, guilt, and the extent of moral inability, but orthodox Christianity consistently rejects any claim that people can save themselves apart from grace.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "The term must be handled within the boundaries of Scripture’s teaching on sin, holiness, judgment, grace, repentance, and salvation. It should not be used to support moralism, antinomianism, or denial of human responsibility.",
  "practical_significance": "This term helps readers understand confession, repentance, evangelism, humility, and the need for Christ’s saving work. It reminds believers that salvation is by grace and that all people need the gospel.",
  "meta_description": "Sinner refers to a person guilty of sin and standing in need of God’s mercy. It should be explained first in relation to Scripture and Christian doctrine.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/sinner/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/sinner.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}