Transgression comes from the root concept of going or stepping, with a preposition expressing “parallel,” prefixed to it. It thereby indicates a stepping alongside regarding law. It is primarily a legal term that denotes a person who violates the law through their actions, whether intentionally or not. Therefore, a transgression is a sin that relates to the breaking of the law.
A transgression is not restricted in use to the Mosaic Law. The scribes and the Pharisees questioned Jesus concerning His disciples. They asked Him why He permits them to transgress the traditions of the elders by not washing their hands before eating (Matthew 15:2). They, being zealous for the traditions of their fathers, considered the failure to ceremonially wash their hands before eating a violation of their law. In response, Jesus inquires why they violate God’s commandment because of their traditions (Matthew 15:3). The scribes and Pharisees would dedicate all their possessions to God to avoid honoring their mother and father (Matthew 14:5–6).
Death reigned, even though there was no law, upon those who did not transgress as Adam did (Romans 5:14). Adam broke the law when he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. His sin brought death, as God had stated it would (Genesis 2:17). This death passed on to all men (Romans 5:12). Adam was not deceived; he knew that eating the fruit of the tree would not make him wise. Eve was thoroughly deceived by Satan and fell into a transgression (1 Timothy 2:14). Although Eve sinned, it was Adam’s trespass and sin that brought spiritual and physical death to all. After Adam ate, they were both stripped of their garments of light (Genesis 3:7). This is because Adam determined in his mind to violate God’s law, considering his own wisdom sufficient in this situation, and thereby separated himself in his rational from God, causing spiritual death. He then knowingly violated the law by eating, bringing physical death upon himself. As the head of the creation, this penalty was passed down to all his offspring (Romans 5:12–on the basis that all sinned).
Apart from law, there is no transgression (Romans 4:15). Law works out wrath, whereas faith is according to grace. Therefore, the promise to Abraham is not only to those of the law, but also to those who are out from the faith of Abraham (Romans 4:16). In John’s second letter, he uses the word transgression relating to the doctrine of the Christ. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of the Christ does not have God (2 John 9). John uses the word’s root meaning to indicate someone who steps alongside the doctrine. Doctrine is the information that we learn and put into practice. The doctrine of the Christ relates to our position and equality in Christ. In Christ there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:28). Therefore, those stepping alongside the doctrine will seek to separate groups, live by law, and usurp authority over other members of the body.
The law was added on account of transgressions until the Seed of promise should come. This Seed is the singular seed in the covenant given to Abraham in Genesis 22:17. A singular seed that is Christ (Galatians 3:16). The law was a governor and child-trainer until faith in Christ came (Galatians 3:24). Therefore, the law is not against the promise of God, for if life could be given through the law, then righteousness would comes from the works of the law (Galatians 3:21). After faith in Christ came, there is no need for a child-trainer (Galatians 3:25). The law shows us how sinful our sin nature is, it does not give us a means to overcome our sin nature (Romans 7:7).
