Signs of an Augustinian Original Sin in Milan? The Origin and Nature of Human Sin According to Ambrose

Abstract Ambrose’s conception of sin is seldom studied. When it is, scholars often regard Ambrose’s thinking as an imperfect preparation for that of his best-known pupil, Augustine of Hippo. The present article redresses this oversight by investigating Ambrose’s conception of sin in its own right. The starting point for Ambrose’s hamartiology is his belief in the personal choice of the will. On several occasions, he attributes the Fall in Eden entirely to human responsibility. Because of this first sin, Adam and Eve lost their potential for perfect virtue and immortality. Adam’s sin, moreover, had consequences for all humankind: mortality, the loss of godlikeness, and the dissemination of a tendency to sin being chief among them. Ambrose’s reflections on Christian baptism provide an important litmus test for his thinking about the impact of Adamic sin. What exactly does baptism erase? According to the Milanese catechist, baptism erases primarily individual sins. Though Ambrose accepts the pernicious impact of Adam’s sin, we argue that his doctrine of (original) sin may not be accurately considered proto-Augustinian. Unlike Augustine’s view, here it is not Adam’s sin per se that humankind has inherited, but rather a general tendency to sin. Ambrose also never speaks of inherited guilt, but of a contamination. Finally, Ambrose always tries to balance the negative influence of original sin with his belief in individual choice and his programme of moral improvement for all Christians.