Showing posts with label antinomian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label antinomian. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Luther Coined the Term "Antinomian?

I came across an interesting Luther-related fact: Luther actually coined the word "antinomianism." This one popped up in a discussion thread which stated: "Luther actually coined the word 'Antinomianism' to describe Agricola's beliefs."

Wikipedia states it's "a term coined by Martin Luther", so regardless if it's true or not Wikipedia will guarantee it will travel all over cyberspace as undisputed fact!

There's also a few books mentioning it. The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology states, "In fact, it was Luther who actually coined the word antinomianism in his theological struggle with his former student, Johann Agricola." The Collected Writings of James Henley Thornwell states, "The word was coined in the sixteenth century to denote the peculiar opinions of John Agricola and his followers in regard to the Law." The old Catholic Encyclopedia begins its entry on antinomianism  by stating,
"The heretical doctrine that Christians are exempt from the obligations of moral law. The term first came into use at the Protestant Reformation, when it was employed by Martin Luther to designate the teachings of Johannes Agricola and his sectaries..."
Update 7/2020: As per LW 73:3, "An Antinomian (a term coined by Martin Luther from the Greek anti ["against"] and nomos ["law"] is one who rejects God's Law in some way."