antinomianism

American  

[an-ti-noh-mee-uh-niz-uhm] / ˌæn tɪˈnoʊ mi əˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. Theology. the belief 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.

   In his 1539 book, Luther contrasts antinomianism with the true gospel, stressing that law is good and drives us to Christ and to daily repentance.

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Etymology

Origin of antinomianism

antinomian + -ism

Example Sentences

The free love script stands in the 2,000-year-old history of what scholars call antinomianism in Christian thought.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2022

Colonial America had seen its share of religious battles, in which arcane theological disputes like the one over antinomianism caused Puritans to be banished from Massachusetts and have to go establish colonies like Rhode Island.

From Time Magazine Archive

Theology trying to lay down an absolute law sometimes encourages the extremes of asceticism, sometimes it inclines to antinomianism; and sometimes sanctions the condonation of sin in consideration of acts of humiliation.

From Prose Masterpieces from Modern Essayists by Froude, James Anthony

Emerson says that his wife kept him from antinomianism; but this is giving up the defence of his philosophy.

From Christian Mysticism by Inge, William Ralph

With this statement Wesley would, we think, have agreed; but he undoubtedly held that antinomianism was a much more natural and likely result of Calvinistic than of Arminian principles.

From Fletcher of Madeley by Macdonald, Frederic W.