Lawless
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Topical Encyclopedia
The term "lawless" in the Bible refers to individuals or actions that are in defiance of God's laws and commandments. It is often associated with sin, rebellion, and a rejection of divine authority. The concept of lawlessness is significant in both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting the moral and spiritual decay that results from turning away from God's established order.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, lawlessness is frequently linked to the failure to adhere to the Mosaic Law, which was given to the Israelites as a covenantal guide for righteous living. The Hebrew word often translated as "lawless" is "pasha," which conveys the idea of transgression or rebellion. For example, in Isaiah 1:4, the prophet laments, "Woe to a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they are utterly estranged."

The lawlessness of Israel often led to divine judgment, as seen in the Babylonian exile, which was a direct consequence of the nation's persistent disobedience and idolatry. The prophets repeatedly called the people to repentance, urging them to return to the covenant and live according to God's statutes.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "anomia" is commonly used to describe lawlessness. It signifies a state of being without law or in violation of the law. Jesus Himself warned against lawlessness in His teachings. In Matthew 7:23, He declares, "Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’" This passage underscores the seriousness of lawlessness as a barrier to entering the kingdom of heaven.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of lawlessness, particularly in relation to the end times. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7, he writes, "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way." Here, Paul speaks of a future period characterized by increased rebellion against God, culminating in the rise of the "man of lawlessness," often interpreted as the Antichrist.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Lawlessness is not merely a legal or societal issue but a profound spiritual problem. It reflects a heart that is hardened against God and His righteous standards. In 1 John 3:4, the apostle states, "Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness." This verse equates sin with lawlessness, emphasizing that any deviation from God's will is an act of rebellion.

The Bible calls believers to live in contrast to lawlessness by adhering to God's commandments and walking in the Spirit. Romans 6:19 encourages Christians to present themselves as "slaves to righteousness leading to holiness," highlighting the transformative power of grace that enables believers to overcome lawlessness.

Eschatological Significance

The theme of lawlessness is also significant in eschatological discussions. Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse, warns that "because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). This prediction points to a future time when lawlessness will increase, testing the faith and endurance of believers.

Ultimately, the Bible assures that lawlessness will be judged and eradicated. In Matthew 13:41, Jesus promises that "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness." This final judgment will restore divine order and righteousness, fulfilling God's redemptive plan for creation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (a.) Contrary to, or unauthorized by, law; illegal; as, a lawless claim.

2. (a.) Not subject to, or restrained by, the law of morality or of society; as, lawless men or behavior.

3. (a.) Not subject to the laws of nature; uncontrolled.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LAWLESS

lo'-les (anomos): While occurring but once in the King James Version (1 Timothy 1:9), is translated in various ways, e.g. "without law" (1 Corinthians 9:21); "unlawful" (2 Peter 2:8 the King James Version); "lawless" (1 Timothy 1:9); "transgressor" (Mark 15:28 Luke 22:37); "wicked" (Acts 2:23 the King James Version; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 the King James Version). When Paul claims to be "without law," he has reference to those things in the ceremonial law which might well be passed over, and not to the moral law. Paul was by no means an antinomian. Those are "lawless" who break the law of the Decalogue; hence, those who disobey the commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother," are lawless (1 Timothy 1:9). The civil law is also the law of God. Those breaking it are lawless, hence, called "transgressors." Those who are unjust in their dealings are also "lawless"; for this reason the hands of Pilate and those who with him unjustly condemned Jesus are called "wicked (unlawful) hands" (Acts 2:23 the King James Version). The most notable example of lawlessness is the Antichrist, that "wicked (lawless) one" (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

William Evans

Greek
459. anomos -- lawless, without law
... lawless, without law. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anomos Phonetic
Spelling: (an'-om-os) Short Definition: lawless, sinful, illegal Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/459.htm - 7k

113. athesmos -- lawless
... lawless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: athesmos Phonetic Spelling:
(ath'-es-mos) Short Definition: lawless Definition: lawless, unrestrained ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/113.htm - 7k

111. athemitos -- lawless
... lawless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: athemitos Phonetic Spelling:
(ath-em'-ee-tos) Short Definition: illegal, unlawful Definition: illegal ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/111.htm - 7k

458. anomia -- lawlessness
... Word Origin from anomos Definition lawlessness NASB Word Usage lawless deed (1),
lawless deeds (2), lawlessness (12). iniquity, transgression, unrighteousness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/458.htm - 7k

766. aselgeia -- licentiousness, wantonness
... 766 (from "brutal") -- properly, which and indulges in lawless insolence (wanton
caprice). [This is likewise the meaning of 766 in classical Greek (, 110).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/766.htm - 7k

Library

The Lawless One
... Names And Titles of the Antichrist 3. The Lawless One. ... The Lord Jesus was
the Righteous One; the Man of Sin will be the Lawless One. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/3 the lawless one.htm

The Lawless Conduct and Covetousness of Licinius.
... The Life of the blessed emperor constantine, by eusebius pamphilus. Book I.
Chapter LV."The Lawless Conduct and Covetousness of Licinius. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter lv the lawless conduct and.htm

And at First, Indeed, that Deceitful and Lawless One...
... Piece XXV. And at first, indeed, that deceitful and lawless one? And at
first, indeed, that deceitful and lawless one, with crafty ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/piece xxv and at first.htm

But what Life Wouldst Thou Lead? and by what Laws Wouldst Thou ...
... For none are so miserable as the lawless and disobedient. But what life wouldst
thou lead? ... For none are so miserable as the lawless and disobedient. ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/71 but what life wouldst.htm

If the Members Rise, must they Discharge the Same Functions as Now ...
... And we see men also keeping themselves virgins, some from the first, and some from
a certain time; so that by their means, marriage, made lawless through lust ...
/.../chapter iii if the members rise.htm

2 Thessalonians ii. 9-Jun
... And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with
the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming ...
/.../homily iv 2 thessalonians ii.htm

Rom. I. 26, 27
... earth and small [1224] stones, and others being possessed by excessive thirst often
long even for mire, thus these also ran into this ebullition of lawless love ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily iv rom i 26.htm

Home-Government.
... of reciprocated affection,"the parent unhonored, the father and mother despised
and cursed, and the child untrained, uncared for, lawless, and unfit for the ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xviii home-government.htm

The Historical and Spiritual Causes of the Death of Christ
... "Him, being by the determined will and foreknowledge of God given up, through the
hand of lawless men, ye affixed to a cross and slew.""Acts 2:23. St. ...
/.../beibitz/gloria crucis/ii the historical and spiritual.htm

1 Timothy i. 7-May
... man. "But for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners."
He calls the Jews "lawless and disobedient" too. "The ...
/.../homily ii 1 timothy i.htm

Thesaurus
Lawless (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Contrary to, or unauthorized by, law; illegal;
as, a lawless claim. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LAWLESS. ...
/l/lawless.htm - 12k

Godless (31 Occurrences)
... Acts 2:23 this one, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, being given
out, having taken by lawless hands, having crucified -- ye did slay; (See ...
/g/godless.htm - 16k

Appearing (20 Occurrences)
... 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and then the lawless one shall be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus
shall consume with the breath of his mouth, and shall annul by the ...
/a/appearing.htm - 12k

Slay (189 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Acts 2:23 him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay: (ASV YLT). ...
/s/slay.htm - 38k

Antichrist (4 Occurrences)
... So long as Claudius lived, the Antichrist manifestation of this "lawless one" was
restrained; when, however, the aged emperor should pass away, or God's time ...
/a/antichrist.htm - 26k

Man (26072 Occurrences)
... been a great apostasy and the revelation of "the man of sin" (or "of lawlessness";
compare 2:8), named also "the son of perdition" (2:3). This "lawless one" (2 ...
/m/man.htm - 56k

Lawlessness (13 Occurrences)

/l/lawlessness.htm - 10k

Sin (782 Occurrences)
... been a great apostasy and the revelation of "the man of sin" (or "of lawlessness";
compare 2:8), named also "the son of perdition" (2:3). This "lawless one" (2 ...
/s/sin.htm - 82k

Ones (687 Occurrences)
... the sky. (WEB). Mark 15:28 and the Writing was fulfilled that is saying,
'And with lawless ones he was numbered.' (WBS). Luke 1:17 ...
/o/ones.htm - 35k

Deeds (309 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV). Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.
I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more." (WEB). ...
/d/deeds.htm - 33k

Resources
What does the Bible say about lawlessness? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that sin is lawlessness? | GotQuestions.org

What is the mystery of iniquity? | GotQuestions.org

Lawless: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Lawless (16 Occurrences)

Mark 15:28
And the scripture was fulfilled which says, And he was reckoned with the lawless.
(BBE WBS)

Luke 22:37
For I tell you that those words of Scripture must yet find their fulfilment in me: 'And He was reckoned among the lawless'; for indeed that saying about me has its accomplishment."
(WEY DBY YLT)

Acts 2:23
him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
(WEB ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Romans 4:7
Blessed they whose lawlessnesses have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered:
(Root in DBY YLT NAS)

2 Thessalonians 2:8
Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;
(WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Thessalonians 2:9
The appearing of the Lawless one will be attended by various miracles and tokens and delusive marvels--for so Satan works--
(WEY RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 1:9
as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Titus 2:14
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works.
(Root in DBY YLT NAS)

Hebrews 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more."
(WEB DBY YLT)

Hebrews 10:17
and their sins and their lawlessnesses I will never remember any more.
(Root in DBY YLT NAS NIV)

1 Peter 4:3
for sufficient to us 'is' the past time of life the will of the nations to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines, revelings, drinking-bouts, and unlawful idolatries,
(See RSV)

2 Peter 2:7
and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked
(See NIV)

2 Peter 2:8
(for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds):
(WEB WEY BBE YLT NAS RSV)

2 Peter 3:17
You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
(See RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 3:33
The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 28:19
For Jehovah humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah lawless, and transgressed much against Jehovah.
(DBY)

Subtopics

Lawless

Related Terms

Lawless (16 Occurrences)

Man (26072 Occurrences)

Sin (782 Occurrences)

Resulting (7 Occurrences)

Practices (80 Occurrences)

Practises (9 Occurrences)

Breaks (35 Occurrences)

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Leading (101 Occurrences)

Premillennial

Millennium

Fact (98 Occurrences)

Humanly (1 Occurrence)

Naked (56 Occurrences)

Oxen (176 Occurrences)

Offences (21 Occurrences)

Lawlessnesses (3 Occurrences)

Working (205 Occurrences)

Influence (13 Occurrences)

Iniquity (299 Occurrences)

Indeed (628 Occurrences)

Restrains (8 Occurrences)

Restrain (31 Occurrences)

Restraineth (6 Occurrences)

Restraining (9 Occurrences)

Exercising (5 Occurrences)

Diversely (1 Occurrence)

Micah (54 Occurrences)

Menahem (8 Occurrences)

Prevail (50 Occurrences)

Practise (52 Occurrences)

Partners (9 Occurrences)

Participation (9 Occurrences)

Partnership (4 Occurrences)

Partaking (6 Occurrences)

Belial (23 Occurrences)

Comrades (2 Occurrences)

Companions (58 Occurrences)

Acknowledge (61 Occurrences)

Asses (68 Occurrences)

Association (1 Occurrence)

Abounding (28 Occurrences)

Avow (3 Occurrences)

Tribe (250 Occurrences)

Removed (294 Occurrences)

Thus (1271 Occurrences)

Negeb (37 Occurrences)

Negev (39 Occurrences)

Hinder (47 Occurrences)

Purity (16 Occurrences)

Dan (71 Occurrences)

Holds (67 Occurrences)

Anointing (39 Occurrences)

Essenes

Mystery (31 Occurrences)

Common (118 Occurrences)

View (86 Occurrences)

Continue (144 Occurrences)

Satan (50 Occurrences)

Beyond (209 Occurrences)

Secret (341 Occurrences)

Close (186 Occurrences)

Proverbs (11 Occurrences)

Ransom (46 Occurrences)

Subapostolic

Sub-apostolic

Epistles (2 Occurrences)

Gnosticism

Simon (75 Occurrences)

Literature (2 Occurrences)

John (154 Occurrences)

Anem (1 Occurrence)

Law-giving
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