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
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
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
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
2) unjust, unmerited
GODLY
According to the Greek
(G2153, eusebos)
1) piously, godly
1) piously, godly
According to
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary
1) divine
2) pious, devout
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
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]
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
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).
Hmmn! That's really true, may God continually open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of his unreachable depth in Jesus name. Thanks
So good...
I asked the same question today in our Laymens sunday school. Thanks for enlightening.
Who wrote this?
Who wrote this?
Thank you