# G3551 - nomos **Strong's:** [G3551](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3551/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** nom'-os **Part of speech:** masculine noun **LXX equivalent:** renders Hebrew *torah* (H8451), see [H8451 - torah](/codex/h8451-torah/) **NT occurrences:** 195 ## Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG) 1. **Law, code, statute**, formal legal ordinance 2. **The [Mosaic Law](/codex/mosaic-law/) / Torah**, the OT-revealed law (the dominant NT use) 3. **The Pentateuch**, the five books of Moses ([Mt 5:17](/codex/matthew-5-17/); 7:12; 22:40) 4. **Principle, rule**, internal ordering principle ([Romans 7:21](/codex/romans-7-21/), [23](/codex/romans-7-23/), [25](/codex/romans-7-25/); 8:2) 5. **Custom / norm** in some contexts ## Theological force ### *Nomos* as the Mosaic *Torah* The dominant NT use is for the *[Mosaic Law](/codex/mosaic-law/)*. Paul especially engages *nomos* in the soteriological-Pauline sense: the law given through Moses, with which Christ's gospel intersects. ### Three classical Reformed-Pauline distinctions The Reformed tradition (following Aquinas / refined by Calvin / canonized in Westminster Confession 19) distinguishes three uses / aspects of the *nomos*: 1. **Civil / political law** (Mosaic-Israel-specific), applied to ancient Israel as covenant-nation; not directly binding on contemporary states though instructive in moral principles 2. **Ceremonial law** (sacrificial-ritual), fulfilled in Christ; superseded in the new covenant 3. **Moral law** (the Decalogue + summary in love-of-God-and-neighbor), universally binding; expression of God's eternal-character The threefold-use of the moral law: - **First use** (*usus politicus / civilis*), restrains evil in society - **Second use** (*usus elenchticus*), convicts sinners; drives them to Christ - **Third use** (*usus didacticus / normativus*), guides Christian conduct (Reformed emphasis; rejected by some Lutheran-radical traditions) ### Pauline *nomos* / faith dialectic Paul's most extended *nomos*-engagement is in Romans and Galatians: - **[Romans 3:19-20](/codex/romans-3-19-20/)**, "by the works of *nomou* no flesh will be justified… for through the *nomou* comes the knowledge of sin" - **[Romans 3:21-22](/codex/romans-3-21-22/)**, "now apart from the *nomou* the *dikaiosynē theou* has been manifested, being witnessed by the *nomou* and the prophets, even the *dikaiosynē theou* through faith in Jesus Christ" - **[Romans 6:14](/codex/romans-6-14/)**, "you are not under *nomon* but under *charin*" - **[Romans 7:7-25](/codex/romans-7-7-25/)**, *nomos* and indwelling sin - **[Romans 8:2-4](/codex/romans-8-2-4/)**, "the *nomos* of the Spirit of life… freed you from the *nomou* of sin and of death" - **[Romans 10:4](/codex/romans-10-4/)**, "Christ is the *telos* of the *nomou* for *dikaiosynēn* to everyone who believes" - **[Galatians 2:16](/codex/galatians-2-16/), [19](/codex/galatians-2-19/), [21](/codex/galatians-2-21/); 3:2, 5, 10-13, 17-18, 21, 24-25; 4:21-31; 5:3-4, 14, 18, 23; 6:2, 13**, extensive The Pauline pattern: - *Nomos* convicts of sin (cannot save) - *Nomos* is fulfilled in Christ - Believers are *not under* the *nomos* (as way of justification) - Yet the *nomos* remains valid (its moral substance) and is fulfilled in love ([Romans 13:8-10](/codex/romans-13-8-10/)) ### *Nomos Christou*, the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2](/codex/galatians-6-2/), "bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the *nomon tou Christou*" [1 Corinthians 9:21](/codex/1-corinthians-9-21/), "though not without *nomos theou*, but under *nomō Christou*" The *law of Christ* is not a different code from the moral law but its *fulfillment* / *Christological reframing*, the moral law shaped by and embodied in Christ. ### James and [Romans 2](/codex/romans-2/), the *nomos* of love / liberty - **[James 1:25](/codex/james-1-25/); 2:8, 12**, *nomos teleios eleutherias*, "the perfect law of liberty"; the *nomos basilikon* (royal law) of love - **[Romans 13:8-10](/codex/romans-13-8-10/)**, love fulfills *nomos* - **[Galatians 5:14](/codex/galatians-5-14/)**, "the whole *nomos* is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" The trajectory: external-Mosaic-*nomos* → internalized-love-*nomos* → Christ-formed-life. [Jeremiah 31](/codex/jeremiah-31/)'s new covenant (*torah* on the heart) is fulfilled in Christ-with-Spirit-empowered believers. ### Internal-principle uses In [Romans 7](/codex/romans-7/)-8, Paul uses *nomos* metaphorically for principles / patterns: - *nomos hamartias*, law/principle of sin ([Rom 7:23](/codex/romans-7-23/), [25](/codex/romans-7-25/); 8:2) - *nomos thanatou*, law of death ([Rom 8:2](/codex/romans-8-2/)) - *nomos tou Pneumatos*, law of the Spirit ([Rom 8:2](/codex/romans-8-2/)) These are not codified-rules but operative-principles in human moral life. ## Apologetic significance *Nomos* anchors: 1. **The unity of OT and NT**, the *nomos* / *torah* trajectory continues through Christ 2. **Christian ethics**, moral law universally binding; civil / ceremonial fulfilled 3. **Justification by faith, not law**, *sola fide* ([Romans 3:21-22](/codex/romans-3-21-22/); [Galatians 2:16](/codex/galatians-2-16/)) 4. **Anti-antinomianism**, Christian liberty does not abolish moral *nomos* 5. **Anti-legalism**, the *nomos* cannot save; only Christ saves 6. **The third use of the law**, guides Christian conduct (against Lutheran-radical / "free grace" rejection) ## Notable verses ### Christ and the *nomos* - **[Matthew 5:17-19](/codex/matthew-5-17-19/)**, "I did not come to abolish but to *plērōsai* (fulfill)" - **[Matthew 22:36-40](/codex/matthew-22-36-40/)**, Greatest Commandment summarizes *nomos* - **[Romans 10:4](/codex/romans-10-4/)**, Christ as *telos* of *nomou* - **[Galatians 4:4-5](/codex/galatians-4-4-5/)**, Christ "born under *nomon*… that He might redeem those who were under *nomon*" ### Pauline soteriology - **[Romans 3:19-20](/codex/romans-3-19-20/), [21-22](/codex/romans-3-21-22/), [28](/codex/romans-3-28/); 4:14-16; 5:13, 20; 6:14-15; 7:1-25; 8:2-4**, extensive - **[Galatians 2](/codex/galatians-2/)-5**, extensive - **[Philippians 3:5-9](/codex/philippians-3-5-9/)**, Paul's *nomos*-righteousness vs Christ-righteousness - **[1 Timothy 1:7-9](/codex/1-timothy-1-7-9/)**, "*nomos* is good if one uses it lawfully" ### Internalization - **[Romans 2:14-15](/codex/romans-2-14-15/)**, Gentiles by nature *poiōsin* the *nomou*; *nomos* in the heart - **[Hebrews 8:10](/codex/hebrews-8-10/); 10:16**, new covenant *nomos* in the heart (citing [Jeremiah 31](/codex/jeremiah-31/)) - **[James 1:25](/codex/james-1-25/); 2:8, 12**, perfect *nomos* of liberty - **[Romans 13:8-10](/codex/romans-13-8-10/)**, love fulfills *nomos* ### Internal principles - **[Romans 7:21-25](/codex/romans-7-21-25/); 8:2**, *nomos* of sin / Spirit / death ## Patristic / scholarly note Patristic engagement: extensive across all eras. Augustine's *De Spiritu et Littera* and *Contra Iulianum* are foundational anti-Pelagian *nomos*-engagements. The Reformation: Luther's *Lectures on Galatians* (1535); Calvin (*Institutes* II.7-8, "Law as Mirror" / "Three Uses"); Westminster Confession ch. 19. Modern conservative engagement: - D. A. Carson (*From Sabbath to Lord's Day*, 1982) - Tom Schreiner (*Romans* BECNT, 2018) - Doug Moo (*Romans* NICNT, 2018) - Brian Rosner (*Paul and the Law*, 2013), repurposing model - Stephen Westerholm (*Perspectives Old and New on Paul*, 2004) ## See also - [H8451 - torah](/codex/h8451-torah/), Hebrew equivalent - [G1342 - dikaios](/codex/g1342-dikaios/), righteous (paired) - [G1343 - dikaiosyne](/codex/g1343-dikaiosyne/), righteousness - [G1344 - dikaioo](/codex/g1344-dikaioo/), to justify - [G5485 - charis](/codex/g5485-charis/), grace (contrast) - [G4102 - pistis](/codex/g4102-pistis/), faith - [G5056 - telos](/codex/g5056-telos/), end / goal (Christ as telos of nomos) - [Romans 5.12](/codex/romans-5-12/), Adam-Christ; *nomos* arrived - [Romans 2.14-15](/codex/romans-2-14-15/), *nomos* / conscience ## Notes _Lexical workspace for nomos._