Reward of unrighteousness
- "Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;" 2 Peter 2:15
The phrase "wages of unrighteousness" from the Greek misthos adikia (μισθός ἀδικία) only appears once in the Bible. But in the Greek text we also see in 2 Peter 2:13 the phrase "reward of unrighteousness" which is also from misthos adikia.
- "And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;" 2 Peter 2:13
But the same Greek terms are also seen in Acts 1:18 where we see this phrase as "reward of iniquity".
- Acts 1:18 "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."
What are the wages of righteousness?
Matthew 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.