Are People Basically Good?

Are People Basically Good? examines what Scripture teaches about human nature, addressing the widespread assumption that people are fundamentally good and showing why the biblical account points to a different conclusion.

Dr. R.C. Sproul surveys philosophical and theological attempts to define humanity—from classical Greek thought to modern existentialism—before turning to the biblical doctrine of the imago Dei. He explains that human beings were created in the image of God, possessing a unique dignity and grandeur among all creatures, yet that this image has been profoundly marred by the fall into sin. The booklet traces the tension between humanity’s original goodness and its present moral corruption.

Sproul explores the reality, depth, and extent of human sinfulness, drawing on the theological insights of Augustine, Calvin, Edwards, and others to explain the doctrine of original sin and its implications. He contrasts the biblical view with the Pelagian claim that human beings can achieve goodness apart from divine grace, arguing that Scripture presents a far more serious diagnosis of the human condition. The booklet concludes by pointing readers to the necessity of redemption in Christ as the only remedy for the gap between God’s holiness and human unrighteousness.

Key Themes

• The image of God as the basis for human dignity and distinction from other creatures
• The universality and depth of human sinfulness after the fall
• The contrast between Pelagian and Augustinian views of human nature and grace
• The holiness of God as the standard against which human corruption is measured
• The necessity of redemption through Christ for fallen humanity

Featured Quotes

“We have a holy God whose image we bear and whose image it is our fundamental responsibility as human beings to mirror—yet we are not holy.”

“In spite of the loss of our innocence, we have not lost our humanity—but what has been lost is what theologians call conformitas.”