from ἄδικος; (legal) injustice (properly, the quality, by implication, the act); morally, wrongfulness (of character, life or act):--iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἀδικία (adikía) is derived from the adjective ἄδικος (adikos), meaning "unjust" or "unrighteous," which itself is formed by the privative prefix 'a-' (not) and δίκη (dikē), meaning "justice" or "right." Thus, the core meaning of ἀδικία is the state or quality of being "not just" or "not right." Its semantic range extends to:
1. **Legal Injustice:** This refers to a violation of established legal norms, equity, or the rights of others. It can denote an unjust act, a wrong done, or an unrighteous judgment.
2. **Moral Wrongfulness:** Beyond the legal sphere, ἀδικία describes a broader moral deviation from what is inherently right or good. This encompasses unrighteousness in character, a life lived contrary to divine standards, or specific acts that are morally reprehensible. It signifies a fundamental opposition to righteousness and truth.
3. **Iniquity/Unrighteousness:** Often translated as such, it captures the idea of a warped or twisted moral state, a departure from divine rectitude.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἀδικία appears frequently in the New Testament, particularly in the Pauline epistles, where it often stands in stark contrast to God's righteousness (δικαιοσύνη).
* **Romans:** Paul uses ἀδικία to describe the universal human condition apart from God. In [[Romans 1:18]], God's wrath is revealed against "all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." This sets the stage for his argument that all humanity, Jew and Gentile, are under the power of ἀδικία. He further states that those who "obey unrighteousness" will face wrath and fury [[Romans 2:8]]. The concept is pivotal in establishing the necessity of God's justifying act through Christ, as human ἀδικία highlights the need for divine δικαιοσύνη [[Romans 3:5]]. Believers are exhorted not to present their "members as instruments of unrighteousness for sin" [[Romans 6:13]].
* **1 Corinthians:** Paul addresses practical manifestations of ἀδικία within the church. He rebukes believers for taking one another to court before unbelievers, asking, "Why not rather suffer wrong [ἀδικία]?" [[1 Corinthians 6:7]]. He then warns, "Do you not know that the unrighteous [οἱ ἄδικοι] will not inherit the kingdom of God?" [[1 Corinthians 6:9]], emphasizing the ultimate consequence of persistent ἀδικία.
* **2 Corinthians:** The contrast between righteousness and ἀδικία is sharply drawn: "For what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness [ἀνομία], or what fellowship has light with darkness?" [[2 Corinthians 6:14]]. While the latter part uses ἀνομία, the context is the fundamental incompatibility of God's way with unrighteousness.
* **Gospels:** In the parable of the shrewd manager, Jesus refers to "the mammon of unrighteousness" [[Luke 16:8-9]], indicating wealth often gained or used unjustly, or simply pertaining to this unrighteous world system.
* **Acts:** Peter speaks to Simon, telling him he is "in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity [ἀδικία]" [[Acts 8:23]], referring to his corrupt heart and sinful intent.
* **2 Peter:** The epistle speaks of "the wages of unrighteousness" [[2 Peter 2:13]] and notes that false teachers have "hearts trained in greed" and "love gain from unrighteousness" [[2 Peter 2:14-15]].
* **Revelation:** The final warning in [[Revelation 22:11]] states, "Let the one who does wrong [ὁ ἀδικῶν] continue to do wrong [ἀδικησάτω ἔτι], and the filthy continue to be filthy," underscoring the fixed state of those who persist in ἀδικία at the eschaton.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding ἀδικία is significantly enhanced by examining its relationship to other key biblical terms:
* **δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē):** `{{G1343}}` This is the direct antonym of ἀδικία, meaning "righteousness" or "justice." The New Testament often presents these two concepts in stark opposition, highlighting the fundamental choice between living in accordance with God's standards (δικαιοσύνη) or in opposition to them (ἀδικία).
* **ἄδικος (adikos):** `{{G94}}` The adjective form, meaning "unjust" or "unrighteous," from which ἀδικία is derived. It describes the character or nature of one who practices ἀδικία.
* **ἀδικέω (adikeō):** `{{G91}}` The verb form, meaning "to act unjustly," "to do wrong," or "to harm." This verb describes the specific actions that constitute ἀδικία.
* **ἁμαρτία (hamartia):** `{{G266}}` "Sin," literally "missing the mark." While often overlapping, ἀδικία emphasizes the violation of justice and righteousness, whereas ἁμαρτία is a broader term for any transgression against God's will. All ἀδικία is ἁμαρτία, but not all ἁμαρτία is exclusively characterized as ἀδικία.
* **ἀνομία (anomia):** `{{G458}}` "Lawlessness." This term is closely related to ἀδικία, particularly in Pauline thought. Unrighteousness often manifests as a disregard for or violation of God's law. In some contexts, they are used almost interchangeably, emphasizing the rebellion against divine order.
* **παράβασις (parabasis):** `{{G3847}}` "Transgression," implying stepping across a boundary or rule. This is a specific type of sin that can be an act of ἀδικία.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἀδικία is profound, touching upon the nature of God, humanity, sin, and salvation:
1. **Nature of Sin:** ἀδικία reveals sin not merely as a breaking of rules, but as a fundamental perversion of justice and righteousness. It is a state of being contrary to God's character and His established order. It highlights sin as a relational breach, an offense against God's inherent rightness and against fellow humans.
2. **Human Condition:** The biblical portrayal of humanity underscores its pervasive state of ἀδικία. Apart from divine intervention, humanity is inherently prone to injustice, unrighteousness, and moral corruption, as comprehensively laid out in Paul's argument in Romans.
3. **God's Justice and Wrath:** God's revelation of wrath is specifically directed against ἀδικία [[Romans 1:18]], demonstrating His absolute righteousness and His intolerance for anything that opposes His just and holy nature. This underscores that God is not indifferent to human wrongdoing.
4. **The Gospel as Solution:** The good news of the Gospel offers the divine solution to human ἀδικία. Through Christ's atoning work, God's righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) is made available to those who believe, enabling them to be declared righteous and to live righteously, overcoming their inherent ἀδικία.
5. **Ethical Imperative:** Believers are called to actively put off ἀδικία and pursue righteousness in their lives. This includes ethical conduct in all relationships, avoiding injustice, and living in a manner consistent with their new identity in Christ. The church itself is to be a community where ἀδικία is confronted and righteousness is upheld [[1 Corinthians 6:7-9]].
6. **Eschatological Consequence:** The New Testament clearly teaches that persistent ἀδικία leads to exclusion from God's eternal kingdom [[1 Corinthians 6:9]]. This emphasizes the ultimate and serious consequences of rejecting God's righteousness.
### Summary
ἀδικία (adikía) denotes injustice and unrighteousness, fundamentally signifying a state or act that is contrary to what is right and just. Derived from the concept of "not right," it encompasses both legal wrongdoing and, more broadly, moral perversion in character, life, or action. Biblically, it frequently appears in contrast to God's δικαιοσύνη (righteousness) `{{G1343}}` and serves as a key descriptor of the fallen human condition. Theologically, ἀδικία underscores the pervasive nature of sin as a violation of God's righteous order, against which His wrath is revealed. The Gospel offers the divine remedy for human ἀδικία through Christ's righteousness, calling believers to renounce injustice and pursue lives characterized by God's standards of justice and holiness, with the understanding that persistent ἀδικία ultimately leads to exclusion from God's kingdom.
TRV