What are the types of sins in the Bible?

Answer 1

The Hebrew and Greek terms for sin in The Bible have two main meanings: one is transgression or crossing a line; the other is the miss the mark. Sin also includes the idea or concept of going off course or straying away from our goal. So with this in mind, sin has to have a 'boundary or limit' where we miss the mark or go off course, transgressing that boundary.

The God of the Bible has set those standards or boundaries for each and every one of us - not just some simple do's and don'ts but rather the perfect way God lives. This spiritual way is what God wants each of us to strive for and one day attain (not necessarily in their lifetimes).

John was inspired to define sin as a transgression of the boundary of God's law: 1 John 3:4New International Version (NIV): "4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness."

In a broader biblical sense, sins is sin regardless of the degrees which mankind tries to define: 1 John 5:17New International Version (NIV): "17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death." In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus began to broaden the definition of sin to not only the physical actions therein, but now to include even the mere thought of wrongdoing. Jesus brought sin over into attitudes and motives for our actions and what goes on in our minds. They involve what we think. We see the beginnings of a different standard, one that involves not just what we do but what we are.

So we see from the above, sin starts in our minds (see Proverbs 23:7). We really are what we think. Some would say our thoughts do not cause anyone harm and this may be so initially, but the more we think of something/someone desired, though perhaps pleasurable eventually leads to breaking God's law and we sin (Matthew 5:27-28 of above). That is why Jesus Christ instructs us to disrupt that process before it gets started, by not even allowing wrong thoughts into our minds. The Apostle Paul capsulizes this idea in Romans 14.

God desires we all built His character - perfect. It is not attainable by ourselves and that is why Jesus promised a 'Helper or Comforter' in the form of the Holy Spirit to join with the spirit in man upon true repentance and baptism, promising to walk in Jesus' ways (see Galatians 5:16). We are not to compromise here as James tells us in James 4:17.

The four Gospels are filled with examples of sin - even those of omission like the rich men parables. With God's spirit in us leading us to follow in the footsteps of His Son, Jesus, we can do His works on Earth as He planned: (see Ephesians 2:10 and James 2:14-17).

ANOTHER ANSWER:

God defines "sin" in His Word as: "...SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW." (I John 3:4)

Paul elaborates on this, narrowing "the law" down to THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:

"What shall we say then? IS THE LAW SIN? God forbid. Nay, I had not known SIN, but BY the Law: for I had not known LUST, except the Law had said, 'Thou shalt not COVET." (Rom.7:7 KJV)

And what Law says "don't covet?" Of course... the Ten Commandments.

Moses further nails the "breaking of the Ten Commandments" down as the definition of SIN on the day that "God's VOICE spoke to the Israelites"... the day of the ratification of THEIR COVENANT in Exodus 20.

In chapter 19, God first proposes His covenant ["marriage agreement"] with Abraham's children:

"Now therefore, IF YE WILL OBEY MY VOICE INDEED, and keep My covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people [nations]: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a Kingdom of Priests, and an Holy Nation. These are the Words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Ex.19:5-6)

And the people all said in unison: "...All that the LORD hath spoken WE WILL DO...". (verse 8)

THREE DAYS later, following the preparation of the Israelites [baths, clean clothes, etc] to HEAR WHAT THE VOICE OF THE LORD WOULD PROPOSE TO THEM FOR THEM TO OBEY, as the "terms of the covenant"... in the midst of the thundering voice of the LORD, the smoking mountain, and the continuous blaring of trumpets; the terrified Israelites said to Moses:

"...Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Ex.20:19)

And Moses replied: "...Fear not: for God IS COME TO PROVE YOU, that His FEAR may be before your faces, THAT YE SIN NOT." (verse 20)

So, God defines SIN as the breaking of the TEN COMMANDMENTS. Therefore... the "types" of sin are TEN in number... and they are "choosing the wrong god to worship, worshiping idols, not fearing and abusing the LORD's sacred name, breaking His Sabbaths, not respecting one's parents, murder, being unfaithful in marriage, stealing, lying, and coveting."