Wyatt Graham

Wyatt Graham

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
What Does the Bible Say about Repenting for the Guilt of Others?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

What Does the Bible Say about Repenting for the Guilt of Others?

Wyatt Graham's avatar
Wyatt Graham
Aug 27, 2018

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
What Does the Bible Say about Repenting for the Guilt of Others?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Current theological discussions on justice sometimes dip into the question of, "Are we responsible for the sins of our forebears?" It is a good question, and it is one that the Bible answers. Here are four questions and answers related to the question of whether or not we are responsible for the guilt of our forebearers.

Q: Can we be responsible for the guilt of our forefathers?

Yes. In Adam, we are found guilty and worthy of death (Gen 4-6; Rom 5).

Q: Did believers under the Old Covenant repent for the guilt of their forefathers?

A: Yes. Leviticus 26:40, 42 reads: "But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me ..., then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land."

Q: Do believers under the New Covenant need to repent for the guilt of their forefathers?

No. The New Covenant has no curse since Christ took the curse the of law for us (Gal 3:13) and because it is a better covenant (Hebrews). Hence, we have no covenantal requirement to repent for the guilt of forefathers to restore ourselves to God. 

Yet the Old Testament does provide the conceptual framework to understand sin, repentance, and forgiveness. In this sense, we have might find it wise to admit the fault of our fathers when they hurt others yet in a way unlike the Old Covenant requires.

And due to our union with Christ, we are responsible to sympathize with the current suffering of others even if they are caused by our forefathers: "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together" (1 Cor 12:26). In this sense, we should never deny victims sympathy. 

Q: What if the sins of our forefathers hurt other people today?

Only if we allow their sin to perpetuate in the church. If the sins of our fathers hurt others today, we can suffer together with those who are hurt by empathizing and by stating the truth of the matter, namely, that they have been hurt by our relatives. And insofar as we have hurt others by following the pattern of our forebears or by allowing their pattern of injustice to flourish, then we ought to repent for our sins. For example, Jesus says of the church in Pergamum that "some ... hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans" (Rev 2:15). They allowed Nicolaitan teaching to flourish. And since the church did so, Jesus says that whole church ought to repent: "Therefore repent" (Rev 2:16). 


Subscribe to Wyatt Graham

Launched a year ago
I write about past wisdom for life today. My niche is reading actual ancient primary sources and showing how they change your life.

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
What Does the Bible Say about Repenting for the Guilt of Others?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Discussion about this post

User's avatar
How John Mark Comer’s View of God Shapes His Spiritual Formation
A Long But Hopefully Charitable Reading of John Mark Comer's Theology of God
Nov 20, 2024 • 
Wyatt Graham
98

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
How John Mark Comer’s View of God Shapes His Spiritual Formation
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
25
10 theology books that changed my life
We should read old books that have stood the test of time. Here are ten of those, not in any particular order. I could add many more.
Apr 11 • 
Wyatt Graham
94

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
10 theology books that changed my life
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
17
Paul Went to the Third Heaven. What in the World Is He Talking About?
Somewhat apologetically, Paul describes himself as a man “in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor 12:2).
Jul 16, 2019 • 
Wyatt Graham
8

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Paul Went to the Third Heaven. What in the World Is He Talking About?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
1

Ready for more?

© 2025 Wyatt Graham
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Create your profile

User's avatar

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.