SINNER

sin'-er (chaTTa; hamartolos, "devoted to sin," "erring one"): In the New Testament, in addition to its ordinary significance of one that sins (Luke 5:8; Luke 13:2 Romans 5:8, 19 1 Timothy 1:15 Hebrews 7:26), the term is applied to those who lived in disregard of ceremonial prescription (Matthew 9:10, 11 Mark 2:15 Luke 5:30 Galatians 2:15); to those stained with certain definite vices or crimes, as the publicans (Luke 15:2; Luke 18:13; Luke 19:7); to the heathen (Matthew 26:45 Galatians 2:15; compare Tobit 13:6; 1 Maccabees 1:34; 2 Maccabees 2:48, 62); to the preeminently sinful (Mark 8:38 John 9:24, 31 Galatians 2:17 1 Timothy 1:9 Jude 1:15). It was the Jewish term for a woman of ill-fame (Luke 7:37; compare Matthew 21:32, where it is stated that such had come even to John's baptism also). For the general Biblical conception of the term, see SIN.

M. O. Evans