The Opposite Of Holiness

1 Peter 1:15-16
"....but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” [Leviticus 11:44-45]

In the Church today there are many teachings which are quite popular like the question, "What is holiness?"  Because they are so widely taught they're rarely questioned.  

Some will tell you that the opposite of a holy life is a sinful life.  But is this how the Bible defines it?  Yes, and no; not exactly.  Since the Bible is its own best commentary, let's investigate this topic a little further and allow it to explain.

Two Words For Holiness.

There are only two words in Greek for holiness that are used in the New Testament. One is "hagiós," which means "set apart or separated from," which also implies "separated unto."  In other words, you are delivered out of something and unto something else.

For example:  Suppose the company for which you work suffers a financial downturn but you are prospered in spite of it.  Or, maybe everyone around you uses foul language is but you do not.  You are, in effect, different or separate; special; UNCOMMON."
To be "hagios" means you are no longer "COMMON."   So the opposite of holiness is not sin; it is "COMMONNESS."

The other word translated holy in the Bible is this word:  "hosiós."  In Acts 13:35, the only documented sermon of the Apostle Paul where he preaches he gospel, he refers to Psalm 16:10 in verse 35 which says, "For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption."  Let's check out the Old Testament and see what word is used is used in Psalm 16. 

(Jewish rabbis translated the Old Testament into Greek.)

The Septuagint.

"Isn't the Old written in Hebrew," you ask?  

Yes, it is.  But about 400 years before Jesus was born, a group of Jewish Rabbis translated the Old Testament into Greek called the "Septuagint Version."  You see, much of the known world at that time was conquered by the Alexander the Great.  Greek became the common language of the day, lIke English is in our day.  In fact, many Jewish people couldn't even speak Hebrew anymore; but they did speak and understand Greek.  

Throughout the New Testament the disciples quote a lot from the Septuagint, like thisverse in Acts 13.  The word for holy in this verse in the Septuagint is "hosiós;" but the verse quoted is from Psalms.  In Hebrew, it is this word:  "hesed."  It means "grace, mercy, lovingkindness."

"Praise the Lord for He is good, for His mercy (hesed: hosiós) endures forever!"

Holiness is mercy AND grace.  They are interchangeable.  WHOA! AWESOME!!

There are other instances of the word, "hosiós," found in 1 Timothy 2:8-" lifting 'holy hands' to the Lord."  In Titus 1:8 is another, outlining qualities of the believer: "..... hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy (hosiós), self-controlled..."  All are descriptions of an uncommon, set-apart person.

What is the opposite of holiness?  According to the Bible, COMMONESS, NOT SIN, is the opposite of Holiness.