Laying Out the Law on Lawlessness

GREEK WORD WITH ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION: άνομος  (anomos)

PRONUNCIATION:  AH-nom-os

STRONG’S CONCORDANCE #: 459

MEANING: lawless; godless; criminal

ENGLISH WORDS DERIVED FROM: anomy

BACKGROUND OF WORD (ETYMOLOGY): two Greek words literally meaning "without the law"

HOW TRANSLATED IN KJV AND/OR ESV:  transgressor; wicked; lawless; unlawful

# OF TIMES USED IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: 10

KEY VERSE IN THE BIBLE WHERE GREEK WORD USED:

1 Timothy 1:9

 "Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless (άνομος) and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers." NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

When we talk of “the law” in 21^st century Christianity, folks are quick to also use the phrase “legalism.”  While we are not bound by the law, the law still serves as a guide for us today.  Paul, sharing with a young pastor named Timothy, Paul is trying to offer Timothy advise relative to the law and its impact on those within his young congregation.  Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:9, "Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless (άνομος) and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers." The reality is that the law is needed to keep order in a ruthless society.  Sadly enough, mankind left to his own flesh will lead to destruction.  Why? Because the law is for those who are lawless, or without the law.  The law helps to set us in the right direction.  It becomes a measurement towards righteousness. 

There has been great variety in the interpretation of this passage. Some suppose that the law here refers to the ceremonial laws of Moses; others to the denunciatory part of the law; and others that it means that the chief purpose of the law was to restrain the wicked. It seems clear, however, that the apostle does not refer merely to the ceremonial law, for he specifies that which condemns the unholy and profane; the murderers of fathers and mothers; liars and perjured persons. It was not the ceremonial law which condemned these things, but the moral law. It cannot be supposed, moreover, that the apostle meant to say that the law was not binding on a righteous man, or that he was under no obligation to obey it—for he everywhere teaches that the moral law is obligatory on all mankind.

To suppose also that a righteous man is released from the obligation to obey the law, that is, to do right, is an absurdity. Nor does he seem to mean that the law was not given for the purpose of justifying a righteous man—for this was originally one of its designs. Had man always obeyed it, he would have been justified by it. The meaning seems to be, that the purpose of the law was not to fetter and perplex those who were righteous, and who aimed to do their duty and to please God. It was not intended to produce a spirit of servitude and bondage. As the Jews interpreted it, it did this, and this interpretation appears to have been adopted by the teachers at Ephesus, to whom Paul refers. The whole tendency of their teaching was to bring the soul into a state of bondage, and to make religion a condition, of servitude. Paul teaches, on the other hand, that religion was a condition of freedom, and that the main purpose of the law was not to fetter the minds of the righteous by numberless observances and minute regulations, but that it was to restrain the wicked from sin. This is the case with all law. No good man feels himself lettered and manacled by wholesome laws, nor does he feel that the purpose of law is to reduce him to a state of servitude. It is only the wicked who have this feeling—and in this sense the law is made for a man who intends to do wrong.

CHALLENGE FOR THE DAY:

When you think of someone being “lawless” or immoral, who comes to mind?  Set time aside to pray diligently for that person.  Pray that the law would cause that person to become sensitive to their wrong doing.  Find a way to share the love of Christ with them, not as a judge, but as a loving friend.  Ask God to cause the law to penetrate the life of this person and to cause them to see the way of their sin. 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

I thank you Father today for your Holy law.  I thank you that it has been a standard for me toward righteous living.  Not that I am better than others, but that your righteousness is manifested in and through me by your Holy Spirit.  Thank you that I have been made righteous through the blood of your Son.  May your law be ever present to allow me to know your holiness.  In the holy name of Jesus I pray.   Amen.