The Distinction Between Law and Gospel

This is an entry in the Theology Video Encyclopedia on the distinction between law and gospel. For more in-depth explanations of the subject, check out these two lectures I have given on the topic:
• God's Truth: Law and G...
• The Distinction Betwee...

[@theadventurousprogrammer6449]

Excellent!

[@SibleySteve]

I believe Barclay’s Paul and the Gift is the best written analysis of the differences between Luther and Calvin and others. But Dr Cooper is very helpful with these short videos as well. I love Luther for he captures the essence of freedom that the gospel promises. I find very little comfort in Calvin.

[@tonyortega750]

Pr Cooper, how about a video on early church writings on law and Gospel particularly anti-Nicene.

[@Dilley_G45]

You mean ANTE-Nicene?

[@yaboibradautry]

Very fair presentation of the thoughts. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@AaronMiller-rh7rj]

Great information, sir.

[@cynderella-thereallife-tale29]

Thanks for Sharing this video.

[@36742650885]

Please pray for me I need the intercession of Gods Children thank you for considering

[@Hospody-Pomylui]

Interesting. I've never heard of this before. I've just been taught there is ceremonial law that was fulfilled in Christ and therefore done, moral law which is still binding and civil law which is not now binding except for the general equity thereof (which should be carried forth into our own gentile civil codes). And the three uses of the law.

[@yfhw]

Super helpful, thanks!

[@villarrealmarta6103]

I’ve never been a fan of the Law and Gospel approach particularly because historically I see a pattern of salvation and judgement. When we study the Bible as it is written the Lord always shows us cause and effect by watching the actions of both man and God. This is in my opinion the best way to study scripture and the Lord God always speaks to our hearts and awakens us that way. The law has never been a good motivator for any man to fall at the foot of the cross.

[@js1817]

I can't tell whether Luther and Calvin understood Paul. I tend to think that they didn't.

[@zacharyspeights8703]

It's not a "law vs Gospel distinction. It's a Old covenant (a law) vs New covenant (a different law) distinction. Galatians is about not following the Old covenant regulations, namely cercomcision, seremony, and sacrifice, vs living by faith (trust and obedience in Christ's work and commandments.)

[@tonyortega750]

I love the law and gosple distinction but am concerned we don’t see it in the early church writings.

[@rickpettey8822]

Tony Ortega: I recommend to you the book: Law & Gospel How to Read and Apply the Bible, C.F.W. Walther, A Reader's Edition. Published by Concordia Publishing House, 2010. In it Walther provides numerous references to snippets from the church fathers on this issue. He shows its historical roots in Scripture and the early church.

[@DrJordanBCooper]

What part of it in particular? I think many aspects of the law-gospel distinction can be found in early writings.

[@tonyortega750]

I'll have to check it out. Thanks

[@CruelSun7319]

Here are some Reformed theologians teaching law/gospel distinction...
Scottish Presbyterian John Colquhoun wrote:
"The gospel, in this its strict and proper sense, seeing it is in the form of Christ's testament which consists of absolute and free promises of salvation by Him, contains no precepts. It commands nothing. It does not enjoin us even to believe and repent...Every requirement of duty, all precepts, those to believe and repent not excepted, belong to the moral law."
(A Treatise On The Law And The Gospel, chapter 5, page 105)

[@CruelSun7319]

Calvin's successor, Theodore Beza wrote:
"We divide this Word into two principal parts or kinds: the one is called the “Law,” the other the “Gospel.” For all the rest can be gathered under the one or the other of these two headings…We must pay great attention to these things. For, with good reason, we can say that ignorance of this distinction between Law and Gospel is one of the principal sources of the abuses which corrupted and still corrupt Christianity."
(The Christian Faith, 1558)

[@CruelSun7319]

John Calvin wrote:
"For Paul often means by the term law the rule of righteous living by which God requires of us what is his own, giving us no hope of life unless we completely obey him, and adding on the other hand a curse if we deviate even in the slightest degree. This Paul does when he contends that we are pleasing to God through grace and are accounted righteous through his pardon, because nowhere is found that observance of the law for which the reward has been promised. Paul therefore justly makes contraries of the righteousness of the law and of that of the gospel."
(Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.9.4)

[@gideonopyotuadebo2304]

THE GOSPEL THAT IS DISTINCT FROM THE LAW OF GOD OF YEHOVAH IS NOT OF GOD YEHOVAH THE LAWGIVER AND LAWKEEPER BUT IS OF SERPENT THE TEMPTER THE INVENTOR OF ANTILAW GOSPEL.
ANTILAW GOSPEL IS UNGODLY AND ANTIYEHOVAH