Lexical Summary adikos: unrighteous, unjust, wicked Original Word: ἄδικος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unjust, unrighteous. From a (as a negative particle) and dike; unjust; by extension wicked; by implication, treacherous; specially, heathen -- unjust, unrighteous. see GREEK a see GREEK dike HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 94 ádikos (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "no" and 1349 /díkē, "justice") – properly, without justice; unjust, because violating what God says is just; divinely disapproved. See 93 (adikia). 94/ádikos ("unjust") is injustice as a breach of divine justice, i.e. in violation of God's standards. 94 /ádikos ("unjust") describes being found guilty in God's court of law, i.e. as a binding, legal infraction against His law which calls for divine retribution for disrespecting true justice. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and diké Definition unjust, unrighteous NASB Translation unjust (3), unrighteous (8), wicked (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 94: ἄδικοςἄδικος, (δίκη) (from Hesiod down); descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice: 1. unjust (of God as judge): Romans 3:5; Hebrews 6:10. 2. of one who breaks God's laws, unrighteous, sinful (see ἀδικία, 2): (1 Corinthians 6:9); opposed to δίκαιος, Matthew 5:45; Acts 24:15; 1 Peter 3:18: opposed to εὐσεβής, 2 Peter 2:9; in this sense according to Jewish speech the Gentiles are called ἄδικοι, 1 Corinthians 6:1 (see ἁμαρτωλός, b. β.). 3. specifically, of one who deals fraudulently with others, Luke 18:11; who is false to a trust, Luke 16:10 (opposed to πιστός); deceitful, μαμωνᾶς, ibid. Luke 16:11 (for other interpretations see ἀδικία, 2 b.). Strong’s Greek 94 describes the person, action, or condition that stands in opposition to what God calls righteous. In Scripture the idea moves beyond a mere legal fault; it marks someone who violates the standards of God’s covenant order—whether by overt injustice, moral corruption, or unbelief. Because righteousness is defined by God’s own character, the “unrighteous” are measured against His holiness, not cultural norms. Distribution in the New Testament The word group appears a dozen times, spread across narrative, didactic, and parabolic settings: • Luke 16:10; Luke 16:11 – stewardship parable This range shows that the term functions in at least three spheres: (1) practical ethics, (2) doctrinal exposition, and (3) eschatological promise or judgment. The Unjust in the Teachings of Jesus 1. Stewardship and Trust (Luke 16:10-11). In the parable of the unjust manager, Jesus states, “whoever is unrighteous with very little will also be unrighteous with much.” The focus is not the manager alone but every disciple’s integrity. Faithfulness in mundane matters—money, appointments, words—reveals readiness for “true riches.” The term underscores that secret lapses are still measured by God’s righteous standard. 2. Love of Enemies (Matthew 5:45). “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” The same word that marks sinners for judgment also magnifies divine benevolence. God’s impartial providence becomes the model for kingdom citizens, pushing love beyond tribal or merit-based limits. 3. Self-Deception of Works-Righteousness (Luke 18:11). The Pharisee disdains others as “unjust,” yet the narrative reverses the verdict: the tax collector, not the self-approving Pharisee, goes home justified. The passage warns that condemning “unrighteous” people while trusting one’s own record is itself unrighteousness. Pauline Epistles: Ethical Boundaries for the Church 1. Litigation and Witness (1 Corinthians 6:1). Seeking secular courts against fellow believers is called going “before the unrighteous instead of before the saints.” The issue is not competence of Roman law but theological identity: the church is destined to judge the world; therefore submitting kingdom matters to those outside the covenant contradicts the gospel. 2. Inheritance of the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9). “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” The subsequent vice list (sexual immorality, idolatry, greed, etc.) locates unrighteousness in habitual rebellion, not a single lapse. Yet verse 11 follows: “That is what some of you were.” Salvation reconstitutes identity by washing, sanctifying, and justifying sinners in Christ and by the Spirit. 3. Theodicy and Divine Justice (Romans 3:5). Paul poses a rhetorical question: “If our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, is God unjust to inflict wrath?” The answer in 3:6—“Absolutely not!”—guards against any notion that sin is excusable simply because God can overrule it for good. Human unrighteousness never licenses divine unrighteousness; rather, it establishes the necessity of the cross. Petrine Epistles: Encouragement amid Suffering 1. Atonement Grounded in Contrast (1 Peter 3:18). “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” The single occurrence carries massive theological weight: substitutionary atonement trades Christ’s perfect righteousness for the believer’s unrighteousness. The very term that condemns becomes the platform for grace. 2. Eschatological Assurance (2 Peter 2:9). The Lord “knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.” The early church faced mockers and persecutors; Peter reassures them that apparent impunity is temporary. God’s timetable can be trusted—He will both save and judge with precision. The Character of God versus Human Injustice Hebrews 6:10 anchors hope in God’s immutable righteousness: “For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name.” Ministry fatigue often springs from the fear that efforts are unseen or unrewarded. By affirming the negative—“not unjust”—the writer highlights the positive attribute: perfect memory and fairness. Historical and Social Context In Greco-Roman law courts, δικαιος (righteous) and ἄδικος (unrighteous) were routine verdicts. Yet Scripture expands the horizon: ultimate judgment is before the divine tribunal. When Paul warns against lawsuits before the “unrighteous,” he leverages this cultural familiarity to re-calibrate the church’s sense of authority and destiny. Similarly, Jewish wisdom literature (for example, Proverbs and Wisdom of Solomon) contrasts the righteous and the wicked, shaping the first-century mindset. The New Testament authors inherit this framework but ground it in Christ’s redemptive work and the coming resurrection (Acts 24:15). Eschatological Implications • Resurrection of both groups (Acts 24:15) assures that injustice will not prevail. In each case the term draws a moral line pointing to a future reckoning. The gospel thus includes both a promise of forgiveness for the unrighteous who repent and a warning for those who persist. Practical Ministry Application 1. Integrity in Stewardship – Church leaders and believers alike are called to meticulous honesty in finances and responsibilities (Luke 16:10-11). Related Old Testament Foundations Though the exact Greek term is New Testament, its concept mirrors Hebrew רָשָׁע (rasha, wicked) and אָוֶל (awel, unjust), frequently contrasted with צַדִּיק (tsaddiq, righteous). Prophets like Isaiah and Amos denounce societal injustice, preparing the ground for New Testament usage. The Septuagint often employs ἄδικος to translate these Hebrew terms, reinforcing continuity across covenants. Summary Strong’s Greek 94 encapsulates the antithesis of God’s righteous standard. Across parable, doctrine, and prophecy, Scripture portrays the unrighteous as objects of both divine love—seen supremely at Calvary—and divine judgment. For the church, the word serves as a sober caution, a theological lens on the cross, and a call to live out kingdom righteousness in anticipation of the day when the Judge of all the earth will do right. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:45 Adj-AMPGRK: δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους NAS: on [the] righteous and [the] unrighteous. KJV: the just and on the unjust. INT: righteous and unrighteous Luke 16:10 Adj-NMS Luke 16:10 Adj-NMS Luke 16:11 Adj-DNS Luke 18:11 Adj-NMP Acts 24:15 Adj-GMP Romans 3:5 Adj-NMS 1 Corinthians 6:1 Adj-GMP 1 Corinthians 6:9 Adj-NMP Hebrews 6:10 Adj-NMS 1 Peter 3:18 Adj-GMP 2 Peter 2:9 Adj-AMP Strong's Greek 94 |
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