Richard Rufus of Cornwall on Original Sin

Excerpted from Sententia Oxoniensis

Introduction by Rega Wood

Excerpt

"Ne forte moriamur" [Gen. 3.3] in quarta parte est. Ubi dubitatur: videtur quod Eva dubitavit et non credidit firmiter verbis Dei. Haec incredulitas fuit ante suggestionem diaboli. Ergo primum peccatum fuit ante suggestionem diaboli. Respondetur quod "forte" aliquando significat libertatem arbitrii, ut Matth. 21 []: Forsitan verebuntur filium meum. Et ita sumitur hic. Unde Matth. 27: "Ne forte veniant discipuli." Et hoc quod sequitur hic infra [Lombard, Sent. 2.21.5.4]. "Quae igitur dubitavit," sic exponunt, id est, ad modum dubitationis se habuit. Ecce quod videtur plane quod dubio mulieris praecessit negationem diaboli, et ita suggestione. Quaeritur etiam quod fuit primum peccatum Evae, et iam videtur quod fuit peccatum incredulitatis. "Lest perhaps we should die" [Gen. 3. 3] is [a passage] from the fourth part, where the following doubt is raised. It seems that Eve doubted and did not firmly believe in God's words. This disbelief was prior to the devil's suggestion, so the first sin was prior to the devil's suggestion. Some say that the use of the word 'perhaps' sometimes signifies freedom of choice, as at Matt. 21[37] "Perhaps they will respect my son." That is how it is taken here. Hence Matt. 27 [64]: "Lest his disciples should come." And in what follows below at the words, "So she who doubts," is expounded in this way, that is, in the manner of a doubt. See it seems plain that the woman’s doubt preceded the devil's denial: ["No you shall not die" Gen. 3.4]. Hence it preceded his suggestion [that she eat the apple]. We also ask what was Eve's first sin, and it already seems that it was the sin of disbelief. EI

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Sed contra. Augustinus, Super Genesim ad litteram, lib. XIf[[30] sic ait:# “Dixit ergo serpens mulieri: `non morte moriemini’ But on the contrary, Augustine, in On the Literal Interpretation of Genesis 31.30, says: “The serpent therefore said tothe woman: `No, you shall not die the death.’  
Quando his verbis crederet mulier a bona atque utili re divinitus se fuisse prohibitos, nisi jam inesset menti amor ille propriae potestatis. Et quaedam de se superba praesumptio, quae per illam tentationem fuerat convincenda et humilianda?” Ecce videtur quod antequam ipsa credidit et consensit serpenti, erat in ipsa elatio et superbia. Et hoc bene videtur rationale, scilicet quod superbia fuit primum peccatum; est enim ipsa radix omnis peccati.Sed contra: Videtur quod negligentia fuit primum peccatum, sicut habes de hoc supra .... Once these words were said, would the woman have believed that God had forbidden her something good and useful, if were not for the love of having her own way already in her heart and a proud presumption, which this temptation must convict and humiliate?” See, apparently before she believed the serpent and consented to his suggestion there was pride and self-exaltation. [in Eve]. And this seems resaonsbile, namely that pride was the first sin, since it is the root of all sin. But on the contrary: It seems that negligence was the first sinc as was established earlier ....  
Videtur ergo quod Eva, quia de se superbe praesumpsit, ideo verbum Domini non credidit, ideo facta est inoboediens, ideo Deum deseruit, ideo neglexit, et non e contrario. Et ita superbia videtur fuit radix et prior natura in ipsa, et praecessit illa alia omnia, quae tamen omnia, unum dici possunt peccatum secundum subiectum. Sic enim docet Augustinus, Enchiridion, cap. 36, quod in isto uno primo peccato, possunt intelligi plura peccata. Si ipsum unum in sua quasi membra singula dividatur. Nam superbia erat illic, quia homo in sua potius esse quam in Dei potestate dilexit. Et sacrilegium, quia Deo non credidit: homicidium, quia se praecipitavit in mortem. Et fornicatio spiritualis, quia integritas mentis humanae serpentina persuasione corrupta est. Et furtum, quia cibus prohibitus, usurpatus est. Et avaritia, quia plusquam sibi sufficere debuit, appetivit. Ecce horum omnium enumerat Augustinus hic, superbiam primum. So it seems that because Eve proudly presumed, she did not believe the word of God and so she was made disobedient and forsook God. Therefore she neglected [his command] and the converse is not the case. And thus sin was the first root, naturally prior to her neglect [of the command], and thus pride preceded all other other [sins]. Yet all [these sins] can be called one sin, having [a single] subject. So Augustine teaches, at Enchiridion 36: He teaches that in this one first sin we can understand many sins, if that one sin is divided into its single elements as it were. For there is pride in it, since man delighted in his own power rather than in God’s; sacrilege, since he did not believe in God; homicide, since he brought death on himself; spiritual fornication, since the integrity of the human mind was corrupted by the serpent’s coaxing; theft, since he seized the prohibited food; avarice, since he craved more than should have been sufficient for him;" See Augustine named pride first among all the sins he enumerated.  

Etymology Exercise I

In Latin, superbia means "pride" or "haughtiness" or as some say, "above it all." "Super" as a prefix can mean "above" or "more" or simply "exceeding the norm." What do you think super means in these English words?

1. Superhero: exceeding the norm
2. Superimpose: above
3. Superannuated: more
4. Supersaturate: more
5. Superscript: above

Etymology Exercise II

1. The credo of New Hampshire is "Live Free or Die."
2. Carol thought that the idea of space aliens was too incredible.
3. The President took credit when the bill passed through Congress.
4. John gave a credible excuse for being late.
5. Karen had the proper credentials to qualify for a licensing examination.
6. After demonstrating that he could pay bills on time, John got a credit card from the bank.
7. Children can be credulous because they lack experience.

Grammar Exercise I

1. Deus omnia ligna paradisi mulieri et viro dedit, praeter lignum quod erat in medio paradisi. (mulier, vir)
2. Eva cepit fructum ligni propter persuasionem serpentis. (fructus)
3. Adam et Evae fructum ederunt, quamquam Deus praecepit eis ne comederent. (ei)
4. Serpens hostis erat animis Adae et Evae. (animae)
5. Eva credidit et consensit serpenti et non Deo, et hoc erat primum peccatum. (serpens, Deus)
6. Eva sensit serpentem latentem iuxta lignum. (serpens latens)

Grammar Exercise II

1. dubitatur utrum Eva prima peccaverit. (dubitari, present)
2. respondetur quod incredulitas prima peccatum fuit. (responderi, present)
3. quaeritur utrum serpens Evam delusit. (quaeri, present)
4. dubitatum est quo discipuli venirent. (dubitari, perfect)
5. creditur quod superbia erat prima peccatum. (credi, present)
6. Tractatus sumitur hic.(sumi, present)

Grammar Exercise III

[The woman believed these words, because already there was in her mind that love of her own power, and a certain proud presumption, which had to be overcome and humbled through that temptation. And so it seems that before she believed and agreed with the serpent, there was in her exaltation and pride. And this seems quite reasonable, namely that pride was the first sin, for this is the root of every sin.]