Lecture Notes: Understanding Biblical Concepts of Human Nature

Introduction

• The Bible provides a profound diagnosis of human nature.
• Uses terms like sin, iniquity, and transgression which may sound outdated to modern audiences.

Key Terms and Their Meanings

Sin

• Refers to moral failure.

Transgression

• Describes breaking trust with others.

Iniquity (Hebrew: Avon)

• Often translated as wickedness, guilt, or sin.
• Related to the Hebrew verb avah meaning to be bent or crooked.
  • Used metaphorically to describe crooked behavior or moral failing.
  • Examples:
    • Psalm 36: Bent over in pain.
    • Lamentations 3: Twisty, crooked road.
    • Jeremiah: Israel's crooked ways violating covenant with God.

Moral and Social Implications

• Avon refers to behaviors violating ethical commands like lying, murder, adultery.
• In Isaiah 59, Avon signifies corruption and injustice among leaders.
  • Describes Jerusalem’s moral state as "crooked is the new straight."
• Consequences of Avon are the broken relationships and cycles of retaliation.

Divine Response to Human Behavior

Punishment

• "To punish" means allowing one to face the consequences of their crooked choices.
  • Example: Babylon’s destruction by other nations as divine justice.

Forgiveness

• God offers to "carry" the avon of people, a common biblical expression for forgiveness.
  • Psalm 32: Confession leads to God carrying the avon of sin.
  • This forgiveness is likened to taking responsibility for people's moral failings.

The Servant in Isaiah

• A figure embodying God's forgiving love by carrying the avon of many.
• Allows humanity's crookedness to destroy him but emerges alive.
• Offers life to others.

New Testament Insights

• Apostles use the Greek word onomi to convey similar meanings.
  • Paul identifies Jesus as the servant.
  • Jesus offers redemption from our onomi (crooked behavior and consequences).

Conclusion

• The whole biblical narrative is about God's desire to transform crooked people and a twisted world into something right.
• Through Jesus, an invitation is extended to become whole and upright people with God and each other.

These notes summarize the biblical perspective on human nature, sin, and divine response, emphasizing the transformative journey from moral failure to wholeness through divine forgiveness.