22 Types of Sinners
by R.A. Miller
Published June 8, 2026.
Joseph Alleine
In his 1671 classic, An Alarm to the Unconverted, Joseph Alleine describes 22 types of sinners. Ten of these 22 are open sinners, who wear their mark of faithlessness “in their foreheads.” This list is as follows:
1. The unclean
2. The covetous
3. Drunkards
4. Liars
5. Swearers
6. Railers and backbiters
7. Thieves, extortioners, and oppressors
8. Those who live in profane neglect of God’s worship
9. Frequenters and lovers of evil company
10. Scoffers at Religion
The remaining twelve variations of sinners are secret sinners who carry their mark of unconversion in their “hands more covertly.” They suffer from:
11. Gross ignorance
12. Secret reserves in closing with Christ
13. Formality in religion
14. The prevalency of false ends in holy duties
15. Trusting in their own righteousness
16. A secret emnity against the strictness of religion
17. The resting in a certain pitch of religion
18. The predominant love of the world
19. Reigning malice and envy against those that disrespect them, or are injurious to them
20. Unmortified pride
21. The prevailing love of pleasure
22. Carnal security
While this list could be used to examine one’s own heart, it is also useful to preachers. While there may be faithful Christians in their assemblies, let the minister remember that he may be preaching to a variety of sinners. Therefore, his preaching needs to address a variety of sins.