### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
παράβασις (parábasis) is a Greek noun derived from the verb παραβαίνω (parabainō), which literally means "to step beside," "to go past," or "to overstep." The core meaning of παράβασις is therefore an "overstepping," a "going beyond," or a "violation." In a moral or legal context, it signifies a "transgression," "breach of command," or "violation of law." It implies a deliberate act of crossing a known boundary or contravening a prescribed limit. Unlike the broader concept of ἁμαρτία (hamartia, `{{G264}}`), which denotes "missing the mark" or falling short of a standard, παράβασις specifically emphasizes the conscious act of violating an explicit command or revealed law. It highlights the presence of a rule and the act of breaking it.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term παράβασις appears predominantly in the Pauline epistles and the book of Hebrews, where it plays a crucial role in theological discussions concerning sin, law, and grace.
* **[[Romans 2:23]]**: "You who boast in the law dishonor God by your transgression of the law." Here, παράβασις explicitly identifies the act of violating the Mosaic Law, underscoring the hypocrisy of those who claim to uphold it.
* **[[Romans 4:15]]**: "For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression." This verse is foundational for understanding Paul's argument. It asserts that παράβασις (transgression) can only occur where a specific law or command exists to be broken. This distinction is vital for his argument that righteousness comes through faith, not adherence to a law that defines transgression.
* **[[Romans 5:14]]**: "Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come." Adam's act of disobedience is specifically labeled παράβασις because he directly violated a clear, divine prohibition. This highlights the unique nature of Adam's sin as a foundational transgression that introduced sin and death into the world.
* **[[Galatians 3:19]]**: "Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made." Paul states that the Law was given "because of παράβασις," implying its purpose was to expose, define, and perhaps even multiply transgressions. The Law illuminates what constitutes a violation, making sin evident as παράβασις.
* **[[1 Timothy 2:14]]**: "and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor." While the noun παράβασις is not used here, the related participle παραβᾶσα (parabasa, "transgressor") from παραβαίνω is applied to Eve, reinforcing the concept of a direct violation of a divine command.
* **[[Hebrews 2:2]]**: "For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution..." παράβασις is paired with παρακοή (parakoē, `{{G3876}}`, "disobedience"), emphasizing the serious, deliberate nature of offenses against divine revelation, particularly the Law given through angels.
* **[[Hebrews 9:15]]**: "Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant." Christ's atoning death is presented as the means by which believers are redeemed from the παράβασις committed under the Old Covenant, underscoring the gravity of these violations and the necessity of divine atonement.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **ἁμαρτία (hamartia, `{{G264}}`):** While often translated as "sin," ἁμαρτία carries the primary sense of "missing the mark" or falling short of God's standard. παράβασις is a specific type of ἁμαρτία—one that involves the violation of a known law. All παράβασις is ἁμαρτία, but not all ἁμαρτία is παράβασις, especially in contexts where a specific command was not yet revealed.
* **ἀνομία (anomia, `{{G458}}`):** Meaning "lawlessness" or "iniquity," ἀνομία describes a state of being without law or in active opposition to it, a disregard for divine standards. παράβασις is the *act* of breaking a specific law, whereas ἀνομία can describe the *condition* or *attitude* of one who lives contrary to law.
* **παρακοή (parakoē, `{{G3876}}`):** Translated as "disobedience" or "unheeding," this term emphasizes the refusal to hear or comply. In [[Hebrews 2:2]], it is used alongside παράβασις, suggesting that παράβασις is the outward act of transgression, while παρακοή can represent the inward refusal to obey.
* **The Law (νόμος, nomos `{{G3551}}`):** The concept of παράβασις is inextricably linked to the existence of law. Without a clear command or standard, παράβασις in its strict sense cannot occur. The Law serves to reveal, define, and make evident what constitutes a transgression.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of παράβασις is profound, particularly within the framework of Pauline theology and the broader New Testament understanding of sin and salvation.
* **Defining Sin:** παράβασις precisely defines sin as a deliberate violation of a known divine command. It highlights God's holiness and the clear boundaries He establishes for human conduct, emphasizing that sin is not merely an error but an act of rebellion against His revealed will.
* **Purpose of the Law:** Paul utilizes παράβασις to explain the function of the Mosaic Law. The Law was not given as a means of justification but rather to expose, define, and even multiply transgressions ([[Galatians 3:19]], [[Romans 4:15]]). By making sin a clear παράβασις, the Law demonstrated humanity's utter inability to achieve righteousness through its own efforts, thereby pointing to the indispensable need for divine grace.
* **Adam's Foundational Transgression:** The designation of Adam's sin as παράβασις ([[Romans 5:14]]) is central to understanding the origin of sin and death. Adam's direct violation of a specific divine command brought sin and death into the world, establishing a pattern of παράβασις that affected all humanity.
* **Necessity of Atonement:** The gravity of παράβασις underscores the absolute necessity of Christ's atoning death. His sacrifice provides redemption from the transgressions committed under the Old Covenant ([[Hebrews 9:15]]). Christ's perfect obedience stands in stark contrast to humanity's παράβασις, providing the sole means for reconciliation with a holy God.
* **Grace and Faith:** By emphasizing that the Law reveals παράβασις and brings wrath, Paul directs believers away from a works-based righteousness towards righteousness by faith in Christ. Where παράβασις abounds, grace superabounds, demonstrating God's boundless mercy in providing a solution for humanity's deliberate violations.
### Summary
παράβασις (parábasis) precisely denotes a "transgression" or "violation," specifically the act of overstepping or breaking a known divine command or law. Derived from παραβαίνω ("to step beside/beyond"), it emphasizes the deliberate crossing of a boundary. Biblically, it is distinguished from general "sin" (ἁμαρτία `{{G264}}`) by its requirement of a specific command to be violated. Paul uses παράβασις to elucidate the purpose of the Law—to reveal and multiply transgressions, thereby demonstrating humanity's profound need for grace. Adam's sin is presented as the archetypal παράβασις, introducing sin and death into the world. Ultimately, Christ's atoning death provides redemption from these transgressions, highlighting the profound theological significance of παράβασις in understanding the nature of sin, the function of the Law, and the necessity of divine salvation.
TRV