I John 1:1-10
Sin. My Study Bible pointed out that the word “sin” and its variations occurs 27 times in this epistle. Today we have it five times in these few verses (7b-10). As we read on we will see that John uses “sin” as both a noun and a verb – as a noun 18 times (both singular and plural) and as a verb 9 times.
It’s interesting to consider the singular and the plural of sin as a noun. Here is an excerpt from today’s reading: …the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins… (vv. 7b-9a) I get the sense that “sin” in the singular is more corporate –a comprehensiveness, an entirety within ourselves (If we say we have no sin), but also in a more global sense (cleanses us from all sin). Sin in the plural refers more to individual acts, as we see in the last two occurrences of the word in the verses quoted above. And as I ponder further it seems like “sin” in the singular is (a) what Jesus’ death on the cross was all about, cleansing the entire world of all sin for all time and (b) for each of us, the cleansing that happened at our initial “conversion”, whenever that was. By contrast, “sin” in the plural is what we deal with, where we are on a daily basis. Any thoughts on all that…?
See also: December 16 (2020) / I John 1:1-10