Original Sin and the Colloquy of Regensburg.

The article examines the 1541 agreement on original sin reached at the Colloquy of Regensburg between Roman Catholic and Protestant theologians, highlighting its significance and the unresolved theological tensions it embodied. While both parties concurred that baptism removes the guilt (formal element) of original sin, they diverged on the nature of concupiscence—the inclination to sin that remains in the baptized—with Protestants asserting it is sin strictly speaking, and Catholics viewing it as a sinful tendency or penalty but not sin per se unless consented to by the will. This disagreement reflected deeper concerns about the efficacy of baptism, the work of Christ, and the basis for justification by faith alone, and it persisted despite the temporary concord at Regensburg. The article situates these debates within the broader context of Reformation controversies, emphasizing that both sides sought to defend Christ's redemptive work while interpreting Scripture and patristic tradition differently regarding sin in the baptized.