antinomian

[ an-ti-noh-mee-uhn ]

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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˌantiˈnomianism, noun

Other Words From

• an·ti·no·mi·an·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of antinomian¹

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

Hutchinson spoke about her religious convictions in ways that convinced authorities she was an antinomian, someone who believed she received direct revelation from God.

From Salon

By teaching that victory is the only morality, many evangelical leaders seem to be enjoying the wild, antinomian party.

From Washington Post

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

Reinforcing this problematic view, Brown presents Shiite Muslims, rationalist Mu’tazila theologians and antinomian Sufis chiefly as disruptive outsiders against whom Sunni jurists must struggle to preserve Islam’s integrity.

From Washington Post