How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

This profound question was first uttered by the righteous Joseph the Chaste when he was being tempted by the wife of Potiphar (Genesis 39:9). His response provides the foundational blueprint for the Coptic Orthodox understanding of sin, accountability, and our relationship with God.

1. Sin is Primarily Against God

In the Coptic tradition, sin is not merely a social mistake or a legal infraction; it is a betrayal of a relationship with the Creator. As King David cried out in his psalm of repentance, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight" (Psalm 51:4). Even when a sin is committed against another person, it is viewed as a "great wickedness" against God because every human being is made in His image.

2. The Constant Presence of God

The secret to Joseph's victory was his awareness of God’s presence. St. John Chrysostom emphasizes that those who "wallow in wickedness" are often "unwilling to know it, although their consciences pluck at them." The "great wickedness" occurs when a person ignores their conscience and the fact that they are standing before the Living God. As Chrysostom notes, it is a "fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

3. The Rejection of "Fate" and the Use of Free Will

The Coptic Church teaches that we are not forced into sin by "Fate" or biological necessity. St. John Chrysostom argues that the doctrine of the Resurrection and Judgment is one of "righteousness, awarding according to desert," whereas the idea of "Fate" is full of injustice. When one asks, "How can I do this?" it is an exercise of free will. We have the power, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, to say "No" to the devil's contributions.

4. Avoiding the Perversion of Grace

We must never fall into the heretical trap mentioned by St. Paul and discussed by the Fathers: "Let us do evil that good may come." To sin willfully while assuming God will simply use it for good is described as an "absurdity to a degree." Such a mindset is "unpardonable" because it praises the sin or treats it as a cause of good, rather than a spiritual death.

5. Spiritual Discipline and Alternatives

To avoid "great wickedness," one must replace worldly and "Satanic" influences with spiritual ones. St. John Chrysostom advises that if you desire beauty or joy, you should look to the "spiritual songs" of the Church and the "choir of Angels" rather than the unrestrained pleasures of the world.

In summary, you avoid this wickedness by:

• Maintaining a constant remembrance of God.
• Honoring the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
• Listening to the "plucking" of the conscience.
• Fearing the Judgment while trusting in the righteousness of God.

As Joseph did, we must flee from the occasion of sin, recognizing that any "pleasure" gained is temporary, but the offense against the Lord has eternal consequences.