παράπτωμα

a falling away, sin

Definition

παράπτωμα (paraptōma) fundamentally means a 'falling aside' or a 'false step,' describing a deviation from the right path, a lapse, or a trespass. In the New Testament, it is used broadly for human sin, often in contexts of relational offenses and forgiveness, such as in Matthew 6:14-15 where forgiving others' 'trespasses' is tied to God's forgiveness. In Paul's letters, especially Romans 5:15-17, it takes on a weightier theological sense, describing the 'transgression' of Adam that brought condemnation to humanity, contrasted with the grace of Christ. Thus, it can range from personal missteps to the foundational sin that affects all people.

Biblical Usage

This word appears 19 times, primarily in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark) and the Pauline epistles (especially Romans). In the Gospels, it is used in teachings on prayer and forgiveness, emphasizing interpersonal wrongs (e.g., Mark 11:25-26). In Romans, Paul uses it repeatedly (Romans 4:25, 5:15-17) in a dense theological argument to describe Adam's original transgression and the sins of humanity, setting up a contrast with the gift of grace through Jesus Christ. This shows a pattern: from practical ethical instruction to deep doctrinal exposition on sin and redemption.

Etymology

Derived from παρά (para, meaning 'beside' or 'alongside') and the root of πίπτω (piptō, 'to fall'). Literally, it means 'a falling beside' or 'a slip to the side,' picturing someone stumbling off the correct path. This root idea of a mis-step or deviation evolved into the broader concept of a trespass or sin. The related noun πτῶμα (ptōma, G4430) means 'a fall' or 'corpse,' highlighting the foundational idea of a fall.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures both the individual nature of sin as a personal trespass and, in Paul's usage, its corporate, Adamic dimension as the transgression that brought death (Romans 5:15). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by showing that sin is not just an abstract state but an active 'falling away' from God's standard. It underscores the seriousness of sin while highlighting the surpassing greatness of God's grace in Christ, which abundantly covers our 'paraptōmata' (Romans 5:20).

In its Greco-Roman setting, the word carried a general sense of an error or failure. The biblical authors infused it with specific Hebraic and theological meaning, connecting it to concepts of covenant violation and moral failure before God. Unlike some modern, psychological understandings of sin, παράπτωμα implies a clear objective deviation from a known standard or path, often with relational consequences.

ἁμαρτία (hamartia, G266) — The more general and common word for 'sin,' meaning to miss the mark. παράπτωμα often emphasizes the specific act of trespass or falling aside. παράβασις (parabasis, G3847) — A 'transgression' or overstepping of a boundary, often of a known law. παράπτωμα can imply a more accidental slip or stumble compared to a willful overstepping. ὀφείλημα (opheilēma, G3783) — A 'debt' or what is owed; used metaphorically for sin in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:12), focusing on the obligation violated, whereas παράπτωμα focuses on the act of falling.

Word Details

Scripture References