Lexical Summary athesmos: Lawless, unprincipled, unrighteous Original Word: ἄθεσμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lawless, wicked. From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of tithemi (in the sense of enacting); lawless, i.e. (by implication) criminal -- wicked. see GREEK a see GREEK tithemi HELPS Word-studies 113 áthesmos (from 1 /A "not" and 5087 /títhēmi, "set in place") – properly, not in acceptable order ("out of place"). [In ancient secular Greek, 114 (athetéō) referred to what was "illegal (contrary to statute)," as in Plutarch (1:712b; cf. TDNT 1:167).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and thesmos (law, custom) Definition lawless NASB Translation unprincipled men (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 113: ἄθεσμοςἄθεσμος, (θεσμός), lawless (A. V. wicked); of one who breaks through the restraints of law and gratifies his lusts: 2 Peter 2:7; 2 Peter 3:17. (the Sept., Diodorus, Philo, Josephus, Plutarch.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 113 portrays people who live without regard for God’s order—“lawless,” “unprincipled,” or “without binding custom.” Though the form appears only twice in the New Testament, the idea permeates the biblical storyline, contrasting those who honor the Lord’s statutes with those who cast them off. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. 2 Peter 2:7 speaks of Lot, whom God “rescued…oppressed by the immoral conduct of lawless men.” The apostle pictures righteous Lot surrounded by a society whose behavior was openly contemptuous of divine boundaries. Connection with Old Testament Imagery Peter’s use deliberately summons Genesis 19. Sodom’s citizens epitomized disregard for God’s design of sexuality, hospitality, and justice. By choosing this description, Peter aligns first-century false teachers with the flagrant rebellion of Sodom, underscoring that divine deliverance and judgment remain consistent across covenants. Theological Themes 1. Moral Antithesis: Scripture frequently sets “lawless” people over against “righteous” people (Psalm 37:12-13; Proverbs 29:27). Peter continues the pattern, showing that in any age the defining cleavage within humanity is obedience versus rebellion. Relationship to Other New Testament Terms While ἄνομος (Strong’s 459) denotes general lawlessness, ἀθέσμος carries a nuance of willful rejection of what is established, suggesting insolence toward both divine and communal standards. In practice, it overlaps with ἀδικία (“unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9) and παράβασις (“transgression,” Romans 4:15), forming a composite picture of humanity’s need for redemption. Eschatological Dimension 2 Peter locates “lawless men” in the last-days context of scoffers who deny the Lord’s return (2 Peter 3:3-4). Their disregard for judgment stems from a desire to persist in sin without consequence. The apostle dismantles their argument by reminding readers that the same word which created the heavens now reserves the present order “for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7). Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Guarding the Flock: Elders and teachers must expose doctrines that rationalize sin. Peter ties doctrinal error to moral collapse; sound teaching and holy living remain inseparable. Practical Warnings and Encouragements • Avoid Complacency: “Be on your guard” (2 Peter 3:17) turns passive spectators into active sentinels. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 113 summarizes a posture of settled rebellion against God. Its sparse but strategic New Testament usage spotlights a perennial threat to the Church and a clarion call to holiness. By rehearsing both the deliverance of the righteous and the downfall of the lawless, Peter summons every generation to steadfastness, confident that the Judge of all the earth will do right. Forms and Transliterations αθεσμων αθέσμων ἀθέσμων athesmon athesmōn athésmon athésmōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Peter 2:7 Adj-GMPGRK: τῆς τῶν ἀθέσμων ἐν ἀσελγείᾳ NAS: conduct of unprincipled men KJV: the filthy conversation of the wicked: INT: the of the lawless in sensuality 2 Peter 3:17 Adj-GMP |
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