< A Study on the Conceptual Distinction
Between “Original Nature” (本性) and “Fallen Disposition” (根性). >
1. Citation from Cheon Seong Gyeong.
“Just as one’s physical parents lived,
people inherit the nature of Satan and
come to think of everything centered on themselves.
Whether heaven or anything exalted,
they try to connect everything to themselves.”
(Cheon Seong Gyeong, p. 1229)
2. Principle-Based Interpretation of the Citation.
Before examining the cited passage,
we must first clarify the concept of 本性 (Original Nature)
from the viewpoint of the Principle of Creation.
According to the Principle, all created beings—
humans, angels, and the entire created universe—
were formed based on the Original Image of God, which consists of:
God’s Divine Original Essence (神性)
God’s Truth Original Essence (神相)
God’s Internal Original Nature (本性相)
God’s External Original Form (本形狀)
These elements exist in perfect union, harmony, balance, and oneness.
Furthermore,
all beings were created as harmonized embodiments of
Original Masculinity (本陽性) and Original Femininity (本陰性), and
each was endowed with a unique individual character (個性體).
During this creative process,
God bestowed upon human beings and angels the archetype of God’s absolute attributes—
a nature that is innate, original, transcendent, pre-existent, inherent, and divinely endowed.
This divinely given, original, and pure inner nature is
what we call 本性 (Original Nature).
Therefore:
Any being that remains within its original, unfallen position possesses the Original Nature.
However, any being that has departed from its original position— such as a fallen angel or fallen human—no longer possesses this Original Nature.
The corrupted inner inclination of a fallen being is not 本性, but
what the Principle calls 根性 (Fallen Disposition).
Thus,
in the cited passage, the term “본성 (nature)” is used to describe the inner inclination of Satan, but
this is not the correct Principle-based term.
The accurate expression should be:
“Satan’s Fallen Disposition (根性)”,
not “Satan’s Original Nature (本性)”.
This distinction is essential for maintaining conceptual accuracy within the Principle of Creation.
3. Conclusion.
The Original Nature (本性) of an angel refers only to the angel’s unfallen, creation-intended inner nature.
However,
once an angel departs from its original position and falls,
its inner inclination is no longer “Original Nature” but “Fallen Disposition (根性)”.
Therefore,
the correct Principle-based terminology for the inner inclination of the fallen angel—Satan—is:
“Satan’s Fallen Disposition (根性)”, not “Satan’s Original Nature (本性)”.
