Ungodliness vs. Unrighteousness

A question was presented at Bible study last night that I had never considered before. What is the difference between ungodliness and unrighteousness? Our scripture reference at that point was Romans 1:18:


For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

For sure there must be a difference or it would not have been written as two separate things, right? The first thought that came to my mind was another scripture, Titus 2:11-12 (one of my favorites, btw), which also writes godly and righteously side by side as two separate ways of living:

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

I must admit that every time I’ve read either of these—ungodliness/unrighteousness and godly/righteously—I have always just grouped them together as one with a broad definition: right before God or not right before God. Well, it seems there is as little more to it…

UNGODLINESS

According to the Greek
 (G763, asebeia) also translated in KJV as “ungodly”
                1) want [lack] of reverence towards God, impiety, ungodliness

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary
                1) the quality or state of being ungodly
                UNGODLY
                1) a: denying or disobeying God : impious, irreligious
                    b: contrary to moral law : sinful, wicked

Denying God. Hmmm…

UNRIGHTEOUSNESS

According to the Greek
(G93, adikia) also translated in KJV as “iniquity,” “unjust” and “wrong”
                1) injustice, of a judge
                2) unrighteousness of heart and life
                3) a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary
                1) not righteous : sinful, wicked
                2) unjust, unmerited

GODLY

According to the Greek
(G2153, eusebos)
                1) piously, godly

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary
                1) divine
                2) pious, devout

                PIOUS (a few of the definitions):
                1) marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship
                2) sacred or devotional as distinct from the profane or secular
                3) showing loyal reverence for a person or thing

RIGHTEOUSLY

According to the Greek
(G1346, dikaios) also translated in KJV “justly” and “to righteousness”
                1) just, agreeably to right
                2) properly, as is right
                3) uprightly, agreeable to the law of rectitude [morally correct behavior or thinking]

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary
                1) acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
                2) morally right or justifiable

I know that’s a lot of words to look at and put together, but for me the end result is this:

Righteousness/Unrighteousness: the way I choose to live in or out of obedience to God’s ways according to His truth

Godly/Ungodly (-ness): my reverence or lack thereof toward God as divine, holy and the final authority

Without godliness, then it seems, you cannot even have true righteousness—only self-righteousness that will fail by way of the law because this flesh is weak. True righteousness must come from a beginning place of reverence for God and what He did through Christ Jesus. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”( Rom 10:10a). 

6 Responses so far.

  1. Abayomi Oloruntoba Odofin says:
    September 23, 2017 at 11:24 PM

    Hmmn! That's really true, may God continually open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of his unreachable depth in Jesus name. Thanks

  2. Unknown says:
    March 5, 2018 at 10:51 PM

    So good...

  3. Unknown says:
    March 16, 2019 at 9:19 PM

    I asked the same question today in our Laymens sunday school. Thanks for enlightening.

  4. Unknown says:
    December 17, 2019 at 6:47 PM

    Who wrote this?

  5. Unknown says:
    December 17, 2019 at 6:48 PM

    Who wrote this?

  6. JamesVkey says:
    March 30, 2022 at 3:40 AM

    Thank you

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