What Are the 7 Deadly Sins in Order?
The seven deadly sins are among the most recognized lists in Christian tradition. While the Bible never presents them as a single ordered catalog, they represent attitudes and actions Scripture consistently warns against. These sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—are called “deadly” because they distort the image of God in humanity, leading to other sins and ultimately to spiritual death.
The attribute of God most challenged by these sins is His holiness. God is perfectly pure, set apart, and righteous (Isaiah 6:3). Sin, by contrast, corrupts and defiles, making it impossible to live in God’s presence without His redeeming grace. The seven deadly sins remind us of the seriousness of rebellion against God, but they also highlight the beauty of the Gospel: Christ came to free us from the power of sin and restore us to holiness.
1. Pride
Pride is often considered the root of all other sins. In the Bible, pride represents an exaltation of self over God, as when Lucifer sought to rise above the Most High (Isaiah 14:12–15). Pride resists humility and refuses to acknowledge dependence on the Creator.
The danger of pride is clear in Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride drives humanity to dethrone God in their hearts and enthrone themselves. This is why Paul warns that boasting is excluded in the Gospel (Romans 3:27).
2. Greed
Greed, or avarice, is an insatiable desire for more—whether money, possessions, or power. Jesus warned that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15). The love of money is described as “a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Greed blinds people to eternal treasure in God’s Kingdom. It can consume lives, causing people to exploit others, ignore justice, and hoard instead of giving. By contrast, God’s holiness calls His people to contentment, generosity, and trust in His provision.
3. Lust
Lust is disordered desire, especially sexual desire divorced from God’s design. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus equated lust with adultery of the heart (Matthew 5:27–28). Lust cheapens human beings made in God’s image, reducing them to objects for personal gratification.
Scripture warns that those enslaved to sexual immorality will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). Yet the Gospel offers cleansing and renewal, making even those once dominated by lust into temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
4. Envy
Envy resents the blessings of others and desires them for oneself. Cain’s envy of Abel led to the first murder (Genesis 4:3–8). Proverbs 14:30 states, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
Envy destroys communities, replacing gratitude with bitterness and comparison. By contrast, God’s holiness produces love that “does not envy or boast” (1 Corinthians 13:4). When believers trust God’s goodness, they are freed from envy and can rejoice in the success of others.
5. Gluttony
Gluttony is overindulgence in food or drink, but more broadly it represents excess and lack of self-control. While the Bible celebrates feasting and joy in God’s provision, it also warns against a lifestyle of indulgence that forgets Him.
Deuteronomy 21:20 associates gluttony with rebellion, while Philippians 3:19 laments those “whose god is their belly.” The holiness of God calls His people to moderation, gratitude, and fasting, using even eating and drinking to glorify Him (1 Corinthians 10:31).
6. Wrath
Wrath, or uncontrolled anger, is destructive when it takes the place of God’s justice. James writes, “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Wrath lashes out in vengeance, often escalating conflict rather than resolving it.
Unlike human wrath, God’s wrath is holy, measured, and just. It is part of His holiness, not a flaw in His character. The deadly sin of wrath distorts justice into selfish outbursts, while the Gospel calls us to forgiveness, peace, and entrusting vengeance to God (Romans 12:19).
7. Sloth
Sloth is not mere laziness but a deeper spiritual apathy—a refusal to pursue what is good and necessary. Proverbs speaks of the sluggard who neglects responsibility (Proverbs 24:30–34). Spiritually, sloth dulls the heart, leaving a person indifferent to God’s holiness and His mission.
Hebrews 6:12 warns against becoming sluggish, urging believers to imitate those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. The Gospel awakens us from sloth, giving energy and purpose through the Spirit to serve God and others.
Conclusion
The seven deadly sins are not simply an old list from church history. They describe the ongoing ways sin corrupts human life and opposes God’s holiness. Pride exalts self, greed distorts desire, lust abuses love, envy poisons relationships, gluttony indulges without restraint, wrath perverts justice, and sloth abandons duty.
But the message of the Bible is not only about the depth of sin; it is about the power of Christ to save. The cross exposes sin in all its ugliness, yet it also reveals the holiness of God and His grace. Believers are called not merely to avoid these sins but to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, bearing fruit of love, joy, peace, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).
Bible Verses About the Seven Deadly Sins
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
“Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)
“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (Proverbs 14:30)
“Whose god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:19)
“The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)
“As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.” (Proverbs 26:14)
“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral… nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards… will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)
