1 John 3:4 – Everyone who acts sinfully also does iniquity, for sin is iniquity.
The word ‘anomia’ finds its ultimate meaning in the Mystery of Iniquity,the great falling away of the last days and the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12). However, it may be translated ‘iniquity’, ‘without law’, ‘lawlessness’, or ‘transgression of the law’. ‘Anomia’ is the opposite of righteousness and holiness in every conceivable way. As doing righteousness and knowing God are joined together, even so doing iniquity and not knowing God are paired together. It is the description of those who are rejected and condemned by God (Matthew 7:23).
Sin is revealed to be the acts of iniquity here in 1 John 3:4. It is shown to be synonymous with sin in the Septuagint: “Happy are they whose iniquities (anomia) were forgiven, and whose sins (harmatia) were covered” (Psalms 32:1). In the New Testament, it is also paired with that which causes the offense: “The Son of Man shall send out his angels, and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that cause to stumble (scandalon), and them which do iniquity (anomia)” (Matthew 13:41). It is translated by the Hebrew word ‘beleeaal’ or ‘belial’ in Psalms 18:4 and 1 Samuel 2:12. Although ‘belial’ means ‘worthlessness’ and ‘ungodly or wicked men’, it became a technical term for the devil in both the community of Qumran and in the New Testament, as in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15: “for what partnership has righteousness with iniquity (anomia)? and what fellowship has light with darkness? And what common has Christ with Belial?” We are not the sons of belial that we should walk in iniquity and sin (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 3:8). We are the sons of God, and in every way are to imitate our Father which is in Heaven (1 John 3:1-2, 7; John 1:12; Ephesians 5:1)
