ἄνομος

lawless, sinful, illegal

Definition

The adjective ἄνομος fundamentally means 'without law' or 'lawless,' describing someone who acts outside established legal or moral norms. In the New Testament, it carries two primary senses: first, it refers to those who are literally without the Mosaic Law, such as Gentiles (1 Corinthians 9:21). Second, and more frequently, it denotes those who are morally 'wicked' or 'sinful' by transgressing divine law, as seen in descriptions of the wicked (2 Thessalonians 2:8) or the lawless deeds of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:8). In Luke 22:37 and Acts 2:23, it is applied to those who acted lawlessly against Jesus.

Biblical Usage

ἄνομος is used 7 times across various New Testament genres, including Gospels, Acts, Pauline epistles, and a general epistle. Paul uses it to contrast being 'under the law' with being 'outside the law' in a sociological sense regarding Gentiles (1 Corinthians 9:21), while also listing it among vices for which the law exists (1 Timothy 1:9). In eschatological contexts, it describes the ultimate 'lawless one' opposed to Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:8). The word appears in prophetic fulfillment citations (Mark 15:28; Luke 22:37) and in Peter's description of ancient judgment (2 Peter 2:8).

Etymology

Derived from the alpha-privative prefix ἀν- (an-, meaning 'not' or 'without') combined with νόμος (nomos, G3551, meaning 'law'). Thus, it literally means 'without law.' Its meaning developed from a neutral sense of 'not subject to a specific law' to a strongly negative moral sense of 'violating law' or 'wicked.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the biblical tension between law and grace, and the nature of sin. It distinguishes between those outside the Mosaic covenant (Gentiles) and the active rebellion against God's moral order. Understanding ἄνομος enriches reading by clarifying that 'lawlessness' in Scripture is not merely civil disobedience but a fundamental opposition to God's character and will, ultimately epitomized by the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:8). It underscores that Christ's mission included being 'numbered with the lawless' (Luke 22:37) to redeem those under the curse of the law.

In a Greco-Roman and Jewish context, 'law' (nomos) was central to social order and religious identity. For Jews, being 'without the law' (anomos) could be a neutral descriptor for Gentiles, but it often carried a pejorative connotation of moral and religious deficiency. In Greek culture, it implied being uncivilized or anarchic. The New Testament authors leverage this cultural understanding, sometimes using it technically for Gentiles and other times morally for flagrant sinners, blending Jewish and Hellenistic conceptions of social and divine order.

ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlos, G268) — emphasizes 'sinner' as one who misses the mark, often with a focus on personal moral failure, whereas ἄνομος stresses violation of an established law or norm. παράνομος (paranomos, G3891) — means 'transgressor of the law,' highlighting the act of breaking a specific law, closely related but less common than ἄνομος.

Word Details

Scripture References