Embrace virtue
February 16, 2011 (Wednesday)
Yesterday I wrote about “jealousy.” The blog could engender questions. Here are a few, with the answers:
Q – Isn’t “Jealousy” one of the “Seven Deadly Sins?”
A – No. You are probably thinking of “Envy,” which is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. The two are not the same.
Q – What do you mean by, “The Seven Deadly Sins?”
A – This is a list of sins compiled by Pope Gregory I in 590 A.D. The currently recognized version of the list is usually given as wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. The list was a revision of the work of a 4th Century monk.*
Q – Why are these sins selected for the list?
A – They are “capital” sins, which means they are the sins from which all others are created. (Just like your savings account pays interest, so these sins engender other sins).
Q – Aren’t there lists of sins in the Bible?
A – Yes, in Proverbs 6:16-19** and in Galatians 5:19-21***. They are not the same as “The Seven Deadly Sins.”
Q – What is the difference between “Envy” and “Jealousy?”
A – The two are similar, but probably the basic difference may be that “Envy” is wanting something you don’t have and “Jealousy” is the disturbed feeling you get when you fear something you love is being taken from you.
Q – Isn’t there a list of virtues like the list of sins?
A – Probably the best list is found in Galatians: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). (The Roman Catholic church also recognizes a list of virtues that are the opposites of the sins: Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness and Humility).
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* (Full discussion of Seven Deadly Sins here).
**Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (NIV).
***Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (NIV).