Sodom
Excellent question—because in sensus plenior, the question is not just who sinned, but who bore the judgment.
Let’s walk through it step by step and uncover the full picture.
📖 What Does the Text Say?[edit | edit source]
“Now the men of Sodom were wicked and great sinners against the Lord.” — Genesis 13:13
“The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is very grave.” — Genesis 18:20
So yes—on the surface:
- The people of Sodom committed sins
- Their sin included violence, inhospitality, arrogance, and sexual immorality (see Ezekiel 16:49–50, Jude 1:7)
But that is only the first layer.
🔁 SP Principle: All Judgment Falls on Christ[edit | edit source]
“The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” — Isaiah 53:6 “He became sin for us…” — 2 Cor 5:21
So in sensus plenior, all sin—including the sins of Sodom—are ultimately borne by Christ.
🔥 SP Structure of Sodom's Story[edit | edit source]
🔹 1. The Outcry[edit | edit source]
“The outcry against Sodom is great…” — Genesis 18:20
- This "cry" symbolizes the call for justice—a cry that leads to judgment
- In SP: this cry is not only from victims—it is the cry of Christ, interceding as He bears the guilt of the world
🔹 2. Abraham's Intercession[edit | edit source]
Abraham asks if God will spare the city for the sake of the righteous (Genesis 18:23–32)
- This isn't just compassion—it's a picture of Christ praying for sinners
- Yet, no righteous are found (except Lot, and he is spared only because of Abraham)
🔑 SP Insight:
Christ is the true Righteous One who must stand in for the whole city—yet in this case, He is not spared. He becomes Sodom, and is consumed in its place.
🔹 3. Fire from Heaven[edit | edit source]
“Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire…” — Genesis 19:24
🔥 This is not just punishment. It is a symbol of the cross:
- Christ takes the fire
- Christ descends into the judgment
- The fire falls on Him, not just Sodom
He is the Lamb slain, the city condemned, and the Lot rescued—all in one.
🩸 So Who Is Responsible for the Sin of Sodom?[edit | edit source]
| Layer | Answer |
|---|---|
| Literal | The people of Sodom |
| Human judgment | All have sinned—Sodom is a picture of us all |
| SP | Christ is responsible—He bore the sins of Sodom in His body, and the fire that fell on them fell on Him |
🔥 Final Word[edit | edit source]
The sins of Sodom were real.
But in sensus plenior, Christ became Sodom,
so that we—who are no better—might be pulled out like Lot
and clothed in His righteousness.
