What the Augsburg Confession Says About Original Sin

Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.
By Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.

Ordained Minister, M.Div.

June 6, 2026

2 min read

Oil painting of Adam and Eve in the garden with the shadow of original sin spreading across the landscape in dramatic light

The Augsburg Confession begins not with justification but with God and creation, then immediately addresses original sin in Article II. This sequence is deliberate: the weight of the gospel's solution depends on a clear diagnosis of humanity's problem.

Born Without Fear of God and Without Trust in God

Article II describes original sin as the condition of being born without fear of God and without trust in God. This is not merely about specific sinful acts but about a corrupted orientation of the whole person. Every human being enters the world not as a blank slate but as a creature turned away from God, incapable by nature of the love and trust God requires.

Why This Matters for Justification

The Reformation doctrine of justification is only urgent if Article II is true. If human beings are basically capable of turning toward God through moral effort, then salvation by grace alone is unnecessary. The Reformers insisted on the depth of original sin precisely because the depth of the problem requires the totality of the solution: grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone.

Against the Pelagians

Article II explicitly condemns the Pelagians, who taught that human nature is not corrupted by the fall and that people can choose God through natural ability. This condemnation was not merely historical. Pelagianism resurfaces in any theology that treats salvation as a cooperative effort between divine grace and human willpower. The Augsburg Confession insists the initiative in salvation belongs entirely to God.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Augsburg Confession teach about original sin?

Article II of the Augsburg Confession teaches that since Adam's fall, all people are born with a corrupted nature that is without fear of God, without trust in God, and with disordered desires. This condition is genuine sin that condemns all who are not reborn through baptism and the Holy Spirit.

How does the Augsburg Confession define the effects of original sin?

The Confession defines original sin as the loss of the original righteousness Adam possessed and the presence of positive sinful corruption. Human beings are not simply neutral or weak; they are actively oriented away from God. This is why the Reformers insisted that salvation must be entirely God's work, since sinners cannot save themselves.

How does the Lutheran view of original sin differ from Roman Catholic teaching?

Medieval Catholic theology often described original sin primarily as the absence of original righteousness (a lack), while retaining the view that natural human reason and will remain substantially intact. The Augsburg Confession insists original sin is more radical — a positive corruption of human nature, not merely a privation — that affects reason, will, and every faculty.

Does the Augsburg Confession teach that baptism deals with original sin?

Yes. Article II connects the remedy for original sin directly to baptism and the Holy Spirit. Through baptism, believers receive regeneration and the forgiveness that deals with original sin. This does not mean sinful tendencies immediately cease, but the guilt of original sin is removed and the process of renewal begins.

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