ABSTRACT
Before studying the theme of innocence it is necessary to attempt a definition, although this will be inevitably cursory and contestable. Firstly, the history of innocence has been sorely neglected in academic scholarship. While there are surveys of childhood and interpretations of Eden, there has been no comprehensive study of the history of innocence. 1 A lack of knowledge of earlier traditions is apparent in modern theological dictionary and encyclopaedia definitions, which neglect earlier connotations of the term. Secondly, innocence is a problematic theological term. Aside from doctrinal disputes and uncertainties (or perhaps underlying them) there is a problem of semantics. Innocence has a Latin root and therefore stands at least one remove from the original scriptural languages of Hebrew and Greek. This makes it difficult to assess theological treatments of innocence, which are rooted in scriptural sources. In addition, the semantic range of innocence makes it almost impossible to establish a precise concept. The first problem is what this chapter in a small way seeks to address. The second problem is more an opportunity, since it opens up the rich semantic field of innocence to interpretation.
