Bible Dictionary
LAWLESS
Lawless describes people who reject or violate God’s moral, civil, or revealed law. The New Testament applies the term to sinners and especially associates lawlessness with the final wicked ruler opposed to Christ.
Definition
Lawless describes those who break or disregard God’s law, including moral, civil, and revealed commands. The term may be translated “without law,” “unlawful,” “transgressor,” or “wicked,” according to context.
Biblical Usage
Paul’s being “without law” concerns ceremonial matters and does not mean rejection of moral law. Those who violate the Decalogue, act unjustly, or break civil law are lawless. The term is especially applied to the final wicked one opposed to Christ.
Historical Background
The Greek term anomos means without law. The source emphasizes that Paul was not an antinomian and that civil law, as well as moral law, was regarded as God’s law.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>lo'-les (anomos): While occurring but once in the King James Version (1Ti 1:9), is translated in various ways, e.g. "without law" (1Co 9:21); "unlawful" (2Pe 2:8 the King James Version); "lawless" (1Ti 1:9); "transgressor" (Mr 15:28; Lu 22:37); "wicked" (Ac 2:23 the King James Version; 2Th 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 (1Ti 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" (Ac 2:23 the King James Version). The most notable example of lawlessness is the Antichrist, that "wicked (lawless) one" (2Th 2:8).</p><p>William Evans</p>