The Narrow Path Ministries

I have heard over and over in Protestant circles that sin (hamartano, hamartia, etc.) means "miss the mark", as if you shot an arrow at a target and missed. And yet, when I look in the Arndt Gingrich lexicon it only refers to "miss the mark" as a classical Greek meaning of that word.

I cannot think of any NT passage where sin necessarily means "miss the mark" from the context. So the question is: when a NT writer used the word "sin" should we assume that he meant to convey the idea of "miss the mark" (since we assume that is the usual Koine usage)? Or is this just a matter of reading a classical Greek meaning into a Koine word, when the Koine word no longer had that meaning.

As an example, we can look at Rom 3:23. When Paul says "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", is he meaning to say that all people have tried to reach the glory of God, but in spite of their best efforts have failed (missed the mark)? I do not think the preceeding context of Rom 3 supports this view. However, is there anything inherent in the word "hamartano" that makes this interpretation more plausible?

I would appreciate any insight on the Koine usage of the word "hamartano". Thanks.

Here is a study I once did on the New Testament words for "sin". The numbers in brackets refer to the number of occurences in the New Testament. The words in green refer to the etymological meaning of the Greek word.


New Testament Words for "Sin"

[1] agnoāma — no knowledge, error due to not knowing

Heb 9:7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

1Es 9:20 They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and to give rams in expiation of their error.

[151] hamartia — missing the mark and thus used in early Greek for mistake. In New Testament times, its use was broadened to include any wrongdoing.

Mt 1:21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins[How can His people be saved from mistakes?].

Ac 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forsaking of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Ac 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
[Ananias spoke these words to Paul after Paul had given his testimony. First Paul’s sight was restored to him. Then Ananias told him that God had chosen him to know His will, and to be a witness to all people.]

Mr 1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forsaking of sins.

Ro 6:4-6
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin[How can we be enslaved to mistakes?].

1Pe 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1Jo 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Heb 10:26,27 For if we sin wilfully [How can we make a mistake wilfully?] after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

[13] anomia — lawlessness

Ro 6:19 For just as you once yielded your members to uncleaness and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.
2Co 6:14 Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Th 2:7 For the secret of lawlessness is already at work; only there is the restraining one just now until it is out of the way.

Tit 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Heb 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your comrades."
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."
Heb 10:17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more."
1Jo 3:4 Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

[1] paranomia — beyond the law, breach of the law

2 Pet 2:15,16
Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

[6] asebia — no reverance, irreverance

Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth.

Titus 2:11,12
For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world,

[3] parakoa — beyond hearing, unwillingness to listen

Ro 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous.
[Then as through the unwillingness to listen of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, so also through the listening of the one man, the many will be constituted righteous].

2Co 10:6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
[in readiness having to correct every unwillingness to listen, whenever s fulfilled in you a willingness to listen.]

[7] parabasis — stepping beyond, transgression

Ro 2:23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
Ro 4:15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
Heb 9:15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

[20] paraptoma — falling beside, a false step, a blunder

Matt 6:14,15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Ro 11:12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Thanks; it was extremely helpful. I'll probably use this as a reference more than once.

So, you would say that "miss the mark" would not be a usual meaning for hamartano/hamartia in Koine Greek? Is that purely based on your study of the scripture contexts where this word occurs, or were you also able to locate a Greek reference that went into the classical and Koine usages of this word?

So, you would say that "miss the mark" would not be a usual meaning for hamartano/hamartia in Koine Greek?

Correct. In fact, I would guess that it is never used that way in the New Testament. I think the original meaning of "missing the mark" expanded to include all wrongdoing, and by the times of the NT writers, it was used only as any wrongdoing or sin.

Is that purely based on your study of the scripture contexts where this word occurs, or were you also able to locate a Greek reference that went into the classical and Koine usages of this word?

It is based on what I have read in lexicons and other literature about the change in meaning, as well as the scriptural contexts. I haven't yet searched classical uses of the word. That would be interesting to discover its use as "missing the mark" in classical works.