Understanding the 7 Deadly Sins: A Guide for Catholics
Published July 27, 2023
There are different kinds of sins in the Bible. But in the Roman Catholic and Christian tradition, seven sins stand out from the rest. We know them as the 7 deadly sins.
As per Christian theology, sin is an immoral act that transgresses against divine law. The concept of labeling some sins as “deadly” started in the fourth century when the monk and theologian Evagrius Ponticus made a list of “eight evil thoughts” that can interfere with one’s spiritual practice. The list includes sadness, pride, vainglory, gluttony, lust, anger, avarice, and sloth.
Throughout the years and several translations later, the seven deadly sins were born.
What Are The 7 Deadly Sins?
From their name, you may think of the seven deadly sins as really despicable and unthinkable acts. Though they’re despicable, they’re far from unthinkable. In fact, these offenses are some of the most common sins committed by men.
Here are the seven deadly sins according to the Christian tradition:
1. Pride
Definition:
- a feeling of being better than others;
- an attitude or reaction towards something that one owns or has a connection to because of its perceived value;
- the habit or vice which disposes a man to make himself more than he is
Why is pride a deadly sin?
Both theologians and philosophers agree that pride is the worst of all the capital sins. In most sources, pride is often defined as a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements. When you think about pride in those terms, there’s really nothing wrong with it.
But when left unchecked, pride can lead to vanity and an overwhelming sense of self-importance. It blinds you to God’s grace and gives you the feeling of being superior to everyone. And this concept of superiority is what gives rise to acts of racism and discrimination.
What does the Bible say about pride?
The Bible has plenty of verses that warn about pride and what happens to proud people, such as:
- When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:12)
- Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
- Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)
- The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5)
2. Anger
Definition:
A strong feeling of displeasure and hostility brought about by frustration or annoyance
Why is anger a deadly sin?
Anger is a familiar emotion for all of us. I’m pretty sure we’ve all been angry at someone or something before. So why is it a sin?
Most of the time, we become angry at people because they’ve offended us – either directly or indirectly. But the Bible says that we should forgive each other as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). If you continue to cling to your anger instead of forgiving your enemies, it can lead you to a very dark place.
That pent-up anger slowly turns to wrath and then hatred. Before you know it, you’re seeking revenge against your enemies. Then your enemies will seek revenge against you. It will be an unending cycle of revenge, hatred, and violence that could go on for generations.
What the Bible Says About Anger
Like pride, anger and the sin of wrath are also extensively talked about in the Bible. Here are some of the most spot-on Bible verses about anger:
- In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
- Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (Proverbs 29:11)
- Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
- Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. (Psalm 37:8)
3. Lust
Definition:
Intense or unbridled sexual desire
Why is lust a deadly sin?
Intense or uncontrolled lust leads to immoral sexual acts. This is why St. Thomas Aquinas reasoned that it unloosens the human spirit and sets aside reason. In other words, it turns you into a slave of your desires. You no longer care about anything except quenching your sexual needs, which makes lust very dangerous. It leads you to commit acts of adultery and even rape just to get that sexual gratification you’re yearning for.
What the Bible Says About Lust
The Bible has some really interesting verses about the sin of lust. Here are some of them:
- Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body (1 Corinthians 6:18)
- For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:16)
- So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. (Colossians 3:5)
- If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. (Romans 8:6)
4. Envy
Definition:
- a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage;
- a feeling of unhappiness over another’s good fortune, together with a desire to have the same good fortune
Why is envy a deadly sin?
From Cain killing his brother to the Pharisees plotting to kill Jesus, almost every book of the Bible has a story about envy. But being envious of other people’s things or their good fortune isn’t a sin in and of itself. A healthy amount of jealousy will motivate you to do better and improve yourself.
It’s when you let envy fester in your heart that will eventually lead to horrible consequences. Like anger and lust, envy and jealousy prevent you from seeing reason. It leads you to do things you’ll probably regret once your emotions have subsided.
What the Bible Says About Envy
Envy is probably the most talked about sin in the Bible. Here’s what the scriptures say about envy:
- You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2)
- A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. (Proverbs 14:30)
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17)
- For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. (Proverbs 6:34)
5. Greed
Definition:
A selfish and excessive desire for more of something than what is necessary
Why is greed a deadly sin?
We tend to think of greed as an excessive desire for money, but it goes way beyond material goods. A person can also be greedy for fame, power, attention, and compliments, among others.
The worst thing about greed is that the more you have of something, the more you want of it. It’s a hunger that can never be satiated. This is why many view greed as a type of spiritual disease affecting all areas of a person’s life. It turns them into rotten, self-centered monsters who disregard other people’s welfare for their own gains.
In Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas argues that greed is a direct sin against one’s neighbor since one man cannot possess too much of something without depriving another. It’s also a sin against God because the one committing it foregoes eternal things in favor of earthly gains.
What the Bible Says About Greed
Both the Old and New Testament strongly condemns greed. Some of the scriptures about it include:
- Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This, too, is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
- Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
- No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
- Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Proverbs 13:11)
6. Gluttony
Definition:
- an inordinate desire to eat and drink (St. Thomas Aquinas);
- greedy or excessive indulgence
Why is gluttony a deadly sin?
From the Latin word “gula,” which means to gulp down or swallow, gluttony refers to overindulgence in food, drinks, and material things in general.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that eating at feasts or on special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas is already gluttony. Nor does it imply that people who struggle with abnormal eating habits are gluttons. There are medical conditions that cause someone to have an unhealthy obsession with food.
Overindulgence only becomes a sin when it deprives others. The most obvious example is hoarding food in times of famine or calamities. Or, in the case of this recent health crisis, hoarding toilet papers and hygiene items, thus raising their prices and depriving those who cannot afford them.
Just like greed, gluttony eats you up from the core. It affects your life choices and the way you treat other people.
What the Bible Says About Gluttony
Various verses in the Bible have also talked about gluttony, such as:
- Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Proverbs 23:19-21)
- A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. (Proverbs 28:7)
- For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. (Luke 12:23)
- Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
7. Sloth
Definition:
- disinclination to action or labor;
- spiritual apathy and inactivity;
- facetiousness of the mind which neglects to being good (Summa Theologica)
Why is sloth a deadly sin?
Most of us think that sloth is the same as laziness. But sloth is more than just the reluctance to work or make an effort. It’s about your reluctance to leave your comfort zone.
But what makes wanting to stay in your comfort zone a deadly sin?
You see, all of us are on borrowed time. Not everyone is given the chance or has the talents and skills that we have. Thus, we should try to make the most out of our lives and our talents. If we continue to hide in our comfort zones and refuse to make an effort to make our lives better, it’s a disservice to God. It’s like taking everything that He has given us for granted.
The moment we stop thanking Him for everything we have, we start to drift away from Him. We begin to lose our sense of purpose and veer away from His commandments. This is what makes slothfulness such a deadly sin.
What the Bible Says About Sloth
Here are some of the Bible verses about sloth and indolence:
- Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. (Ecclesiastes 10:18)
- The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. (Proverbs 13:4)
- Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. (Proverbs 19:15)
- A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. (Proverbs 10:4)
Why Are They Called “Deadly Sins”?
Also known as capital or cardinal sins, the seven deadly sins are considered the root of all other sins. They are the sins that are fatal to our spiritual progress. Committing these transgressions can lead to committing various other kinds of immoral acts, which, in turn, can lead to the death of the soul.
To put it simply, deadly sins are called such because it causes spiritual death. As Evagrius Ponticus pointed out in his work Gnostic Centuries, our essential function as spiritual beings is to experience union with God. But committing these gross transgressions severs that union. As a result, we lose the capacity to experience God’s divine grace.
The origin of the word also gives us an idea of the severity of these acts. “Capital” comes from the Latin word “caput,” which means head. St. Thomas Aquinas, in his 13th-century book, Summa Theologica, explained that the head leads the body when committing a sin.
In the English language, “capital” also means “deadly.” For instance, a capital crime usually involves a loss of life and merits severe punishments. Thus, a “deadly sin” is a grave act that kills our souls and separates us from God.
How Can We Avoid the Seven Deadly Sins?
Yes, the seven deadly sins are some of the most common sins committed by men, but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to avoid.
In the Christian tradition, the seven deadly sins can be avoided with the help of seven cardinal virtues such as:
- Chastity
- Charity
- Diligence
- Temperance
- Kindness
- Patience
- Humility
If you notice, these seven virtues are the opposite of the seven deadly sins. Chastity can help temper lust, humility conquers pride, practicing charity can help you avoid greed, exercising temperance helps you tone down gluttony, kindness represses envy, patience can help you manage your anger, and making diligence a hobby can help you get rid of sloth and indolence. In short, practicing these cardinal virtues can take you out of spiritual death and back into God’s grace.
At the end of the day, we are all sinners. There’s no escaping it, it’s in human nature to sin. Even some of our most revered saints have committed sins in their lifetime. But what separates a true Christian from the rest is the humility to admit they’ve sinned and the willingness to repent and accept God’s grace once again.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. She works hard to ensure her work uses accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources.
