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.

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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

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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

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

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 bloody-minded antinomian in all of us is more likely to transgressively click in response to being enjoined not to click.

From The Guardian • Sep. 2, 2014

From the antinomian torrent of this voluptuous anarchy the spirits of Epicurus, of Spinoza, of Goethe, of Nietzsche, turn away in horror.

From Suspended Judgments Essays on Books and Sensations by Powys, John Cowper