Bible Dictionaries
Transgress, Transgression

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

lit., "to go aside" (para), hence "to go beyond," is chiefly used metaphorically of "transgressing" the tradition of the elders, Matthew 15:2; the commandment of God, Matthew 15:3; in Acts 1:25 , of Judas, AV, "by transgression fell" (RV, "fell away"); in 2 John 1:9 some texts have this verb (AV, "transgresseth"), the best have proago (see GO , No. 10).

lit., "to go over" (huper), used metaphorically and rendered "transgress" in 1 Thessalonians 4:6 (AV, "go beyond"), i.e., of "overstepping" the limits separating chastity from licentiousness, sanctification from sin.

"to come by" (para, "by," erchomai, "to come"), "pass over," and hence, metaphorically, "to transgress," is so used in Luke 15:29 . See COME , No. 9, PASS.

akin to A, No. 1, primarily "a going aside," then, "an overstepping," is used metaphorically to denote "transgression" (always of a breach of law): (a) of Adam, Romans 5:14; (b) of Eve, 1 Timothy 2:14; (c) negatively, where there is no law, since "transgression" implies the violation of law, none having been enacted between Adam's "transgression" and those under the Law, Romans 4:15; (d) of "transgressions" of the Law, Galatians 3:19 , where the statement "it was added because of transgressions" is best understood according to Romans 4:15; 5:13; 5:20; the Law does not make men sinners, but makes them "transgressors;" hence sin becomes "exceeding sinful," Romans 7:7,13 . Conscience thus had a standard external to itself; by the Law men are taught their inability to yield complete obedience to God, that thereby they may become convinced of their need of a Savior; in Romans 2:23 , RV, "transgression (of the Law)," AV, "breaking (the Law);" Hebrews 2:2; 9:15 .

"lawbreaking" (para, "contrary to, nomos, "law"), is rendered "transgression" in 2 Peter 2:16 , RV (AV, "iniquity").

Note: In 1 John 3:4 (1st part), AV, poieo, "to do," with anomia, "lawlessness," is rendered "transgresseth ... the law" (RV, "doeth ... lawlessness"); in the 2nd part anomia alone is rendered "transgression of the law," AV (RV, "lawlessness").