Neonomianism in

Christian theology Christian theology is the theology of Christianity, Christian belief and practice. Such study concentrates primarily upon the texts of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, as well as on Christian tradition. Christian theology, theologian ...

is the doctrine that the

Gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

is a new law, the requirements of which humanity fulfills by

faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people often ...

and

repentance Repentance is reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs, which is accompanied by commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better. In modern times, it is generally seen as involving a co ...

, often including a distinction between initial and final justification, the latter being merited through good deeds. Neonomianism is most often associated with the theology of

Richard Baxter Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691) was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymnodist, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he ...

(1615–1691) and

James Hadow James Hadow (1667–1747) was a Scottish minister who served as Principal of St Mary's College, St Andrews from 1707 till 1747. Life He was born in Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland on 13 August 1667. He died on 4 May 1747 at St An ...

(1667–1747). The theology of Richard Baxter has caused much controversy among Reformed theologians, because his teachings have been seen as opposing justification by faith alone. Neonomianism was significant within the Marrow Controversy. Richard Baxter defended this view when he wrote,

William Styles William Kensett Styles (11 October 1874 – 8 April 1940) was an English sport shooter, who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics and the 1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as ...

defined Neonomianism as a doctrine associated with the theologian Daniel Williams, "which held that God has receded from the demands of the Moral Law, and given up its original obligations—and that the Gospel is a New Law, but of milder requirements, in which Faith, Repentance, and sincere though imperfect Obedience, are substituted in the room of the perfect and perpetual Obedience required by the original Law." (William Styles, A Manual of Faith and Practice)

Isaac Chauncy Isaac Chauncy (1632–1712) was an English dissenting minister. Life Chauncy was the eldest son of Charles Chauncy, and was born on 23 August and baptised at Ware, Hertfordshire, on 30 August 1632. He went as a child to New England with his fa ...

(1632–1712) was one of the leading opponents of neonomianism. He set forth his arguments against Williams in his book ''Neonomianism Unmask'd''. The Neonomian controversy with the

Marrow Brethren The Marrow Brethren or Marrowmen were a group inside Presbyterianism, the name is derived from the book " Marrow of Modern Divinity", which caused a controversy in the Scottish Church, called the Marrow Controversy. The leading figures of the Marr ...

has been compared to the

Lordship salvation controversy The lordship salvation controversy (also called lordship controversy) is a theological dispute regarding a soteriological question within Christianity on the relationship between faith and works. This debate has been notably present among some non ...

References

New Testament theology Christian terminology {{Christian-theology-stub

See also

References