Defining Terms

J. I. Packer offers one of the best summaries of the different varieties of antinomianism.

Dualistic Antinomianism
Associated with Gnosticism, which treats the body (and its actions) as insignificant.

Spirit-centered Antinomianism
Views the inner promptings of the Spirit as sufficient apart from the external Word.

 Christ-centered antinomianism
 Argues that God sees no sin in believers, because they are in Christ, who kept the
law for them, and therefore what they actually do makes no difference, provided that they keep believing.

Dispensational Antinomianism
Denies that in the “church age,” believers are obligated to the moral law.

Situationist Antinomianism
Teaches that love is the only rule and that duties (not just their application) will therefore vary according to circumstance.


J. I. Packer, Concise Theology