antinomian

American  

[an-ti-noh-mee-uhn] / ˌæn tɪˈnoʊ mi ən /

noun

1. a person who maintains that Christians, by virtue of divine grace, are freed not only from biblical law and church-prescribed behavioral norms, but also from all moral law.

---

antinomian British  

/ ˌæntɪˈnəʊmɪən /

adjective

1. relating to the doctrine that by faith and the dispensation of grace a Christian is released from the obligation of adhering to any moral law

---

noun

1. a member of a Christian sect holding such a doctrine

Other Word Forms

• antinomianism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of antinomian

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin Antinom(ī) name of sect (plural of Antinomus “opponent of (the moral) law,” from Greek antí anti- + nómos “law”) + -ian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

antinomian

Versions of the antinomian controversy raged throughout Christian history, debated by theologians and enacted by various groups.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2022

An early instance of antinomian free love provokes the apostle Paul to write to the Corinthians in his New Testament letter.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2022

Here, the tramp is truly the other: rather than a projection of our fears, he’s a realisation of our romantically antinomian fantasies.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 5, 2015

Marcus’ work shows how to use research without being used by it, and how to make grown-up arguments about the antinomian, instinctive, innocent weirdness in great pop songs.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2014

The sermon, as might be expected, was of the extremest antinomian type; on justification by faith, as expounded in the theology of St Paul.

From Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Hardy, Thomas