In the following reference, it seems that the Bible speaks of two types of sin:

quote:

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1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

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The above says that there is a sin unto death and that there is a sin not unto death.

I find this to be a perplexing reference that seems to distinguish between two types of sin, one leading unto death, and the other not leading unto death.

What, therefore, specifically are the two types of sin referenced here?

In other words, what sin or sins leads unto death, and what sin or sins leads not unto death?

The two catigories of sin that is unto life or death is: Unforgiven known sins are unto death.
Forgiven known sins lead to eternal life.

SDA Commentary and Ellen white vol. 7 is silent on these verses so i have found the following.

The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters
-PG- 120

"To the forerunner of Christ was given the message, "Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The work of the herald of Christ was a continuous effort to destroy the popular delusion
concerning the coming Messiah, and to show that repentance and forsaking of sin are necessary preparations for the coming kingdom. This work constituted the preparation for the
establishment of the true church.

-END-

Matthew Henry Commentary


#13-17 Upon all this evidence, it is but right that we believe on the name of the Son of God. Believers have eternal life in the covenant of the gospel. Then let us thankfully receive the
record of Scripture. Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. The Lord Christ invites us to come to him in all circumstances, with our
supplications and requests, notwithstanding the sin that besets us. Our prayers must always be offered in submission to the will of God. In some things they are speedily answered; in others
they are granted in the best manner, though not as requested. We ought to pray for others, as well as for ourselves. There are sins that war against spiritual life in the soul, and the life
above. We cannot pray that the sins of the impenitent and unbelieving should, while they are such, be forgiven them; or that mercy, which supposes the forgiveness of sins, should be
granted to them, while they wilfully continue such. But we may pray for their repentance, for their being enriched with faith in Christ, and thereupon for all other saving mercies. We should
pray for others, as well as for ourselves, beseeching the Lord to pardon and recover the fallen, as well as to relieve the tempted and afflicted. And let us be truly thankful that no sin, of which any one truly repents, is unto death.

The Bible points out the sins that need repentance and forgiveness. And "

1Jo 2:16
"For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

This brings to mind another related question.

What type of sin was Jesus referring to when He said while on the cross in Luke 23:34, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"??

Was that particular sin, or were those particular sins that Christ was referring to, or thinking about when He said those words of forgiveness, actually forgiven by the Father to whom He uttered those words?

The sin was rejecting Christ, when they had opportunity to recieve Him. Notice, "ignorance was no excuse"....because the evidence was available that Jesus was the sone of God...the Messiah.

Redemption Or The Sufferings Of Christ His Trial And Crucifixion----PG- 73

"Jesus made no murmur of complaint; his face
remained pale and serene, but great drops of
sweat stood upon his brow. There was no pitying
hand to wipe the death-dew from his face,
nor words of sympathy and unchanging fidelity
to stay his human heart. He was treading the
wine-press all alone; and of all the people there
was none with him. While the soldiers were
doing their fearful work, and he was enduring
the most acute agony, Jesus prayed for his
enemies--"Father, forgive them; for they know not
what they do." His mind was borne from his own suffering to the crime of his persecutors,
and the terrible but just retribution that would
be theirs. He pitied them in their ignorance
and guilt. No curses were called down upon the
soldiers who were handling him so roughly, no
vengeance was invoked upon the priests and rulers
who were the cause of all his suffering, and were
then gloating over the accomplishment of their
purpose, but only a plea for their forgiveness--
"for they know not what they do."
"Had they known that they were putting to
exquisite torture one who had come to save the
sinful race from eternal ruin, they would have
been seized with horror and remorse. But their
ignorance did not remove their guilt; for it was
their privilege to know and accept Jesus as their
Saviour. They rejected all evidence, and not
only sinned against Heaven in crucifying the
King of Glory, but against the commonest feelings
of humanity in putting to a torturous death
an innocent man. Jesus was earning the right
to become the Advocate for man in the Father's
presence. That prayer of Christ for his enemies
embraced the world, taking in every sinner who
should live, until the end of time."

Sin unto death is blasphmy against the Holy Spirit.

frenchmon