Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8703 antinomianism

8703 antinomianism

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8703 antinomianism

A form of spiritual anarchy, which rejects the law as having any place in the Christian life, whether as instructor or as assessor. Paul's teaching that Christians are free from the law is sometimes misunderstood as antinomian. But Paul reveres God's law, and teaches believers, who are free from the law as a system of salvation, to keep it out of gratitude for salvation freely given, and because holiness as defined by the law is the Christian calling.

Antinomianism as a rejection of God's laws

Jeremiah 2:20 See also Proverbs 29:18; Jeremiah 5:5; Hosea 8:12; 2 Peter 2:10

Various people described as antinomian

Israel described as antinomian

Ezekiel 20:13 See also Exodus 32:25; Jeremiah 2:23-25; Hosea 8:1; Zechariah 7:11-12

The ungodly described as antinomian

Jude 4 See also 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 2:13-15; Jude 8

The antichrist described as antinomian

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 See also Daniel 7:25; Daniel 8:9-12,23-25 The object of these prophecies, Antiochus Epiphanes, foreshadowed the antichrist in his behaviour.

Jesus Christ and his followers accused of antinomianism

Matthew 11:19 See also Matthew 12:2; John 9:16; Acts 6:11-14

Jesus Christ came to fulfil the law, not abolish it

Matthew 5:17-19

Paul rejects antinomianism

Romans 6:1-2 See also Romans 3:31; Romans 7:7

Misunderstandings, by opponents and converts alike, about Paul's teaching on freedom from the law

Paul accused of antinomianism

Acts 21:28 See also Romans 3:8; Romans 6:15

Paul corrects the Corinthians' interpretation of his teaching as a licence for antinomianism

1 Corinthians 10:23 The phrase “Everything is permissible” is probably the Corinthians' misinterpretation of Paul's teaching. See also 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Corinthians 6:12-13

Punishment of antinomians

Jeremiah 6:19 See also Ezra 7:26; Amos 2:4-5; Revelation 22:15