Difference between ungodliness and unrighteousness

I have always considered ungodliness and unrighteousness to be different words for the same thing, but there are compelling reasons to consider these as separate sins.

But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40 WEB)

Why did Jesus answer the question with 2 commandments? Was he being superfluous or extraneous? No, Jesus was explaining the difference between ungodliness and unrighteousness from the Jewish Shema, which is contained in Deuteronomy 6, and the instructions God gave for holiness among the people in Leviticus 19.

The distinction between ungodliness and unrighteousness

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. (Romans 1:18-19 WEB)

Why did Paul use 2 different words to describe the sins of humankind that bring God’s wrath? What is the significance of including both ungodliness and unrighteousness? Sometimes the letter to the Romans is too terse because it covers so many different topics. Let’s consider some of Paul’s other letters for more explanation.

Ungodliness is sin against God

Ungodliness is denial of God, disobedience to God, lack of reverence for God, and anything that ignores God. These break the greatest commandment.

Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage. (Jude 1:3-16 WEB)

Unrighteousness is sin against people

Unrighteousness is wrong living and wrongdoing against our family, neighbor, and enemy. These break the second great commandment.

For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. (Galatians 5:13-15 WEB)

Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
     But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
     Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Therefore don’t be partakers with them. (Ephesians 5:1-7 WEB)

Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; or which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:5-11 WEB)

The grace of God versus ungodliness and unrighteousness

But thank God that Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty of all our sins of ungodliness and unrighteousness. And he gave us the power of the Holy Spirit to live a godly life.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14 WEB)

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (Acts 24:14-16 ESV)

For deeper study:

• 8 Truths About the Conscience – What is the conscience? Differences between clear conscience, weak conscience, and defiled conscience. How to develop a mature conscience.
• The controversy of sin – The controversy of sin is not that we are sinners, it is how badly we are sinners, not that God hates sin, but what God has done about sin
• The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead – I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.