St. Severus on the original sin quotation.

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

The quotation from the holy father St. Severus of Antioch regarding Christ bearing our transgressions as a sacrifice for sin (commenting on 1 Peter 2:24) states:

"The one who offered himself for our sins had no sin of his own. Instead, he bore our transgressions in himself and was made a sacrifice for them. This principle is set out in the law, for what sin did the lamb or the goat have, which were sacrificed for sins and which were even called 'sin' for this reason?" (Catena on 1 Peter 2:24)

Theological Context

In this teaching, St. Severus emphasizes essential truths regarding the Incarnation and the Atonement:

1. The Absolute Sinlessness of Christ:

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was conceived without the inherited corruption or guilt of Adam's transgression, nor did He ever commit any personal sin. As St. Severus states, He "had no sin of his own."

1. The Nature of the Sacrifice:

Christ freely took upon Himself our human nature—subject to blameless passions such as hunger, thirst, fatigue, and mortality—in order to bear the consequences of our transgressions. He did not become guilty of sin ontologically, but rather bore our sins in His own holy body on the Cross to abolish death and corruption.

1. Typology of the Old Testament Offerings:

St. Severus draws a direct parallel to the Levitical sacrifices under the Law. A lamb or goat offered for sin possessed no moral fault, yet in the Scriptures it was called a "sin offering" (often simply referred to as "sin") because it was consecrated to bear the atoning purpose. In the same way, the spotless Lamb of God became an offering on our behalf, redeeming humanity from the curse and bondage of sin.