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Wikipedia's first sentence called it "idea that members of a particular religious group are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or moralit". Today it says "term used to describe any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral". Sections present on October 6, 2023 no longer exist: "Buddhist antinomianism; Esoteric left-hand path". We saved the article's opening at 6 moments between 2005 and 2025, and every claim links the exact revision.

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The opening as it read in 2005

Antinomianism , or lawlessness, in theology is the idea that members of a particular religious group are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality as presented by religious authorities.¹ Antinomianism is the polar opposite of legalism , the notion that obedience to a code of religious law is necessary for salvation .² It comes from the Greek word nomos , which means law. The term has become a point of contention among opposed religious authorities. Few groups or sects explicitly call themselves "antinomian," but the charge is often leveled by some sects against competing sects. In the case of Christianity, the controversy arises out of the doctrine of grace , the forgiveness of sins and atonement by faith in Jesus Christ. If God forgives sins, what exactly is the disadvantage in sinning, or the reward of obedience? Paul of Tarsus , in his Epistles , mentions several times that we are saved by the unearned grace of God, not by our own good works, "lest anyone should boast." In Galations 2:14 (part of the "Incident at Antioch") he publicly accuses the Apostle Peter of judaizing , i.e. He invariably goes on to say that sins remain sins, and condemns by several examples the kind of behaviour that the church should not tolerate. This confusion is most likely the cause of the statement in 2nd Peter 3.16 that some of Paul's Letters are hard to understand and have led many astray. James , by contrast, states that our good works justify before men our faith after salvation and we are to obey the Law of God. As he puts it, faith without works is death [Jm2.14-26]. Jesus himself is recorded as teaching that you will know true believers by their works, even though many will claim his name [Mt7,Lk6]. An excellent technical reference on this subject is Jesus, Paul and the Law by James D.G. The gist is that the Greek word telos is correctly translated as goal, not end. Christ is the goal of the Law, not the end of the Law. The end of the Law would be antinomianism. In contrast, there are many passages in the Bible that say the Law is Perpetual [Ex31.16,Lv16.31,23.3,24.8,Nm15.14,Is56.6,66.23,Ps19.7 ...] Also see Anchor Bible Dictionary, Antinomianism in the Bible There are several issues that are addressed by the charge of antinomianism. The charge may represent the fear that a given theological position does not lead to the edification of the believer or assist him in leading a regenerate life. Doctrines that tend to erode the authority of the church and its right to prescribe religious practices for the faithful are often condemned as antinomian. The charge is also brought against those whose teachings are perceived as hostile to government and established authority. The first people accused of antinomianism were found, apparently, in Gnosticism ; various aberrant and licentious acts were ascribed to these by their orthodox enemies; we have few independent records of their actual teachings. In the Book of Revelation 2:6-15, the New Testament speaks of Nicolaitanes , who are traditionally identified with a Gnostic sect, in terms that suggest the charge of antinomianism might be appropriate. In Acts 21:18ff, James challenges Paul about the rumor that he is teaching rebellion against the Law of Moses , but Paul goes to the Temple of Jerusalem as James prescribed to demonstrate that the rumors are false and that he "walks in the ways of the Law". Roman Catholicism tends to charge Protestantism with antinomianism, based in part on the distinctively Protestant doctrine of sola fide , salvation by faith alone, and the typical Protestant rejection of the elaborate sacramental liturgy of the Roman church, and its body of canon law . Within Roman Catholicism itself, Blaise Pascal accused the Jesuits of antinomianism in his Lettres provinciales , charging that Jesuit casuistry undermined moral principles. Charges of antinomianism have also been bandied about within the Protestant camp as well; Martin Luther accused Johannes Agricola of antinomianism and rejecting the notion of a moral law; other Protestant groups that have been so accused include the Anabaptists and Mennonites . Calvinists have also drawn charges of antinomianism. In the history of American Puritanism , Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson were accused of antinomian teachings by the Puritan leadership of New England . Theological charges of antinomianism typically imply that the opponent's doctrine leads to various sorts of licentiousness, and imply that the antinomian chooses his theology in order to further a career of dissipation. The conspicuous austerity of life among surviving groups of Anabaptists or Calvinists suggests that these accusations are mostly for rhetorical effect. Antinomianism among certain Scottish sects is the subject of James Hogg 's 1824 novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner.³

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Look up antinomianism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Interpretation Hermeneutics Pesher Midrash Pardes Allegorical interpretation Historical-grammatical method Inspiration Literalism Alcohol Conspiracy theory Ethics Capital punishment Homosexuality Humor Incest Muhammad Prophecy Rape Serpents Sex Slavery Violence Warfare Women Perspectives Gnostic Islamic Quranic Inerrancy Infallibility Criticism of the Bible Biblical authority Outline of Bible-related topics Bible portal v t e Antinomianism (from the Greek ἀντί , "against" + νόμος , "law"), is a belief originating in Christian theology that faith alone, not obedience to religious law , is necessary for salvation . The concept is related to the foundational Protestant belief of Sola Fide , or justification through faith alone ; however, antinomianism represents an extreme of this idea, wherein adherence to the Mosaic Law is considered inessential in the Christian lifestyle, given the view that faith itself is sufficient to attain salvation. The concept is also related to the Biblical Greek terms anomia and anomos which are generally translated in English translations of the Bible as lawlessness and lawless respectively. An antinomian theology considers adherence to Mosaic Law unnecessary, but it does not usually imply the embrace of ethical permissiveness ; rather it usually implies emphasis on the inner working of the Holy Spirit as the primary source of ethical guidance . Antinomianism is the opposite of legalism or works righteousness ; the notion that obedience to a code of religious law earns salvation. The term "antinomian" emerged soon after the Protestant Reformation (c.1517) and has historically been used mainly as a pejorative against Christian thinkers or sects who carried their belief in justification by faith further than was customary. Few groups or sects, outside of Christian Anarchism or Jewish anarchism , explicitly call themselves "antinomian". While the term originated in early controversies of Protestant doctrine, and has its roots in debates over the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline Epistles , it can be extended to any religious group believing they are not bound to obey the laws of their own religious tradition.

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Anne Hutchinson on Trial (1901) by Edwin Austin Abbey depicts the civil trial of Anne Hutchinson during the Antinomian Controversy of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on 7 November 1637 In Christianity, an antinomian is one who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow moral laws. The distinction between antinomian and other Christian views on moral law is that antinomians believe that obedience to the law is motivated by an internal principle flowing from belief rather than from any external compulsion. The term antinomianism emerged soon after the Protestant Reformation (c.1517) and has historically been used as a pejorative against Christian thinkers or sects who carried their belief in justification by faith further than was customary. Antinomianism in modern times is commonly seen as the theological opposite to Legalism or Works righteousness , the notion that obedience to religious law earns salvation. This makes antinomianism an exaggeration of justification by faith alone . Examples are Martin Luther's critique of antinomianism and the Antinomian Controversy of the 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony . Although the term originated in the 16th century, the topic has its roots in Christian views on the old covenant extending back to the 1st century. It can also be extended to any individual who rejects a socially established morality. Few groups, other than Christian anarchists or Jewish anarchists , explicitly call themselves antinomian.

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View which rejects laws or legalism Antinomianism (from the Greek : ἀντί, "against" and νόμος, "law") is any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms (Latin: mores ), or is at least considered to do so. The term has both religious and secular meanings. In Christianity , an antinomian is one who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments . The distinction between antinomian and other Christian views on moral law is that antinomians believe that obedience to the law is motivated by an internal principle flowing from belief rather than from any external compulsion. Examples of antinomians being confronted by the religious establishment include Martin Luther's critique of antinomianism and the Antinomian Controversy of the seventeenth-century Massachusetts Bay Colony . In the Lutheran church and Methodist church, antinomianism is a heresy . Outside of Christianity, the tenth-century Sufi mystic Mansur Al-Hallaj was accused of antinomianism and the term is also used to describe certain practices or traditions in Frankism , Buddhism and Hinduism , such as the transgressive aspects of Vajrayana and Hindu Tantra which include sexual elements. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "antinomianism" Puritans and Puritanism in Europe and America . Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary . Locating Tantric antinomianism – An essay toward an intellectual history of the 'practices/practice observance' (caryā/caryāvrata) Hugh B. The Power of Tantra: Religion, Sexuality and the Politics of South Asian Studies, chapter five.

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View which rejects laws or legalism Antinomianism ( Ancient Greek : ἀντί [ anti ] "against" and νόμος [ nomos ] "law") is any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms (Latin: mores ), or is at least considered to do so. The term has both religious and secular meanings. In some Christian belief systems, an antinomian is one who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments . Antinomians believe that faith alone guarantees eternal security in heaven, regardless of one's actions. The distinction between antinomian and other Christian views on moral law is that antinomians believe that obedience to the law is motivated by an internal principle flowing from belief rather than from any external compulsion. Antinomianism has been considered to teach that believers have a "license to sin" and that future sins don't require repentance. Johann Agricola , to whom Antinomianism was first attributed, stated "If you sin, be happy, it should have no consequence." Examples of antinomians being confronted by the religious establishment include Martin Luther's critique of antinomianism and the Antinomian Controversy of the seventeenth-century Massachusetts Bay Colony . The charge of antinomianism has been levelled at Reformed, Baptist and some Nondenominational churches. By extension, the word "antinomian" is used to describe views in religions other than Christianity: the 10th century Sufi mystic al-Hallaj was accused of antinomianism the term is also used to describe certain practices or traditions in Frankism aspects of Vajrayana and Tantra that include sexual rituals are sometimes described as "antinomian" for Buddhism and Hinduism "antinomianism" . Dictionary of the English Language (online ed.). Puritans and Puritanism in Europe and America . Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary . Blown by the Spirit: Puritanism and the emergence of an antinomian underground in pre-Civil-War England . Erroneous and Schismatical Opinions: The Question of Orthodoxy regarding the Theology of Hanserd Knollys (c. 1599–1691) . G - Reference,Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. The Power of Tantra: Religion, sexuality, and the politics of south Asian studies . "Locating Tantric antinomianism - An essay toward an intellectual history of the 'practices/practice observance' (caryā/caryāvrata)" . The power of tantra: Religion, sexuality, and the politics of South Asian studies .

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View which rejects laws or legalism Antinomianism ( Ancient Greek : ἀντί [ anti ] 'against' and νόμος [ nomos ] 'law') is any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms ( Latin : mores ), or is at least considered to do so. The term has both religious and secular meanings. In some Christian belief systems, an antinomian is one who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments . Christian antinomians believe that faith alone guarantees humans' eternal security in Heaven regardless of one's actions. The distinction between antinomian and other Christian takes on moral law is that antinomians believe that obedience to the law is motivated by an internal principle flowing from belief rather than from any external compulsion, devotion, or need. Antinomianism has been considered to teach that believers have a "license to sin" and that future sins do not require repentance. Johannes Agricola , to whom antinomianism was first attributed, stated "If you sin, be happy, it should have no consequence." Examples of antinomians being confronted by the religious establishment include Martin Luther's critique of antinomianism , the Ranters of the English Civil War , and the Antinomian Controversy of the seventeenth-century Massachusetts Bay Colony . The charge of antinomianism has been levelled at Reformed, Baptist, and some nondenominational churches. By extension, the word "antinomian" is also used to describe views in religions other than Christianity: the 10th century Sufi mystic al-Hallaj was accused of antinomianism. the term is also used to describe certain practices or traditions in Frankism . aspects of Vajrayana and Tantra that include sexual rituals are sometimes described as "antinomian" in Buddhism and Hinduism . Dictionary of the English Language (online ed.). Puritans and Puritanism in Europe and America . Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary . Blown by the Spirit: Puritanism and the emergence of an antinomian underground in pre-Civil-War England . Erroneous and Schismatical Opinions: The Question of Orthodoxy regarding the Theology of Hanserd Knollys (c. 1599–1691) . G - Reference,Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. The Power of Tantra: Religion, sexuality, and the politics of south Asian studies . "Locating Tantric antinomianism - An essay toward an intellectual history of the 'practices/practice observance' (caryā/caryāvrata)" . The power of tantra: Religion, sexuality, and the politics of South Asian studies .

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Antinomianism

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