Theonomy in Christian Ethics

I could go on and on recommending Bahnsen's book, but suffice it to say that EVERY Christian should read this book to understand how God's Law should apply to his/her life.
A MUST READ!!!


An Epic Masterpiece   April 6, 2009
Nathan Albright (Tampa, FL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book is widely considered among Theonomic scholars to be one of the foundational works of their school of thought, and it is easy to see why. Greg Bahnsen, in this work, manages to skillfully defend the eternal validity of the law of God in a systematic and rigorous way. First, Bahnsen opens with an introduction of the Theonomic thesis that God's standard of righteousness at all times and for all people is His law in its entirety, and then exhaustively giving the exegetical case for this from Matthew 5:17-19. After this, Bahnsen moves on to tackle one form of antinomianism, Pharisaism, showing how the law is unable to justify and empower us, because the purpose of the law is to show how we fall short of the unchanging and eternal standards of God, rather than to justify our actions before our Creator. Then Bahensen takes a bold stance and shows how the Theonomic thesis is integral to true Christianity, showing the integrity of the law (defending it from the attacks of antinomians), shows Jesus Christ's obedience to the law and the necessary continuity of the law because it alone demonstrates our need for atonement, shows how he sanctification of the Holy Spirit allows us to be obedient to God's law, and then shows how the covenants of God are united together, rather than being hostile to others as Dispensationalism assumes. After this, Bahnsen answers three supposed conflicts to the Theonomic view, showing how the Ceremonial law remains valid typologically, pointing to the actions of Jesus Christ, rather than being abrogated, explains the supposed negative passages in the Bible towards the law as condemning the wrong use of the law or the use of human tradition (see the Talmud) as law, and explaining the relationship of Theonomy with grace, faith, and love, showing how true obedience to God's law is not only not contradictory, but is directly and positively related to these three cardinal virtues. Bahnsen then touches on the NT confirmation of Theonomy and gives the functions of God's law, and then shows the antithetical values of autonomy (humanism) and latent antinomianism (where people pick and choose which laws of God they wish to obey), before turning to perhaps the boldest and most extensive part of his thesis, which is showing how God's laws are applicable to the state--in Israel, in the nations around Israel in the OT, and in the NT, as well as showing the Bible's extensive support of the separation of church and state and the implications of God's laws on penology (which is perhaps one of the more controversial elements of Theonomy). To close the book, Bahnsen attacks indifference to obedience to God, shows the blessedness of the law in the Bible, and then closes with some intriguing appendices: an exegetical study of Galatians 3:15-18, showing the roles of the civil government according to the Westminster Confession of Faith, discussing and providing Cotton's "Abstract of the Laws of New England," a Thenomic political work from the Puritans of New England in the 1600's, and then a critique of the exegetical methods of one M.G. Kline concerning the covenants of the Bible. The book as a whole is a powerhouse, one of the most powerful works one can find in its scope and thoroughness demolishing all claims one could have on biblical grounds to refuse to obey God's laws in their entirety, and also shows the characteristic Theonomic concern for the implications of God's laws on outside society. For those wishing to read a scholarly and yet passionate defense of God's laws, this book is highly recommended, and will serve an honored place in my collection of these works for a long time to come.


This work is the standard by which others will be measured   July 20, 2002
Glenn Peoples (Dunedin, New Zealand)
7 out of 13 found this review helpful

If Bahnsen's discussion of the Greek term for "fulfil" in Matthew 5 is really the weakest part of the book, then we have before us an outstanding work of ethics and exegesis. The fact is, an alternative exegesis of Matthew 5 might be correct, and yet Bahnsen's Thesis would still stand. I'm currently preparing a Master's thesis in theology on the topic of the role of biblical law in contemporary government, and I have to say that despite my very best efforts, I have yet to come across a rebuttal to this work that stands up to serious scrutiny, Poythress and Co. included.

This work, if allowed to speak, and if read without trying to think up rebuttals before fair examination has been given, will change the way you look at biblical law. For many Christians, Bahnsen has been responsible for a truly overwhelming paradigm shift.

Fortunately, this work has been republished by Covenant Media Foundation (I can't include the URL here, but they're easy to find on the web). See for yourself what the fuss is about!


A Wake Up Call   December 8, 1998
3 out of 7 found this review helpful

Dr. Bahnsen was on of this nations most articulate exegetes and ethicists the evangelical church has produced. This book is a wake up call to evangelicals who have surrendered Biblical law to "common grace" or Thomistic natural law. In the wake of this lifting up of the white flag Bahnsen blows a loud horn to wake us up to the cultural disatser this has resulted in.