Pronomian Christianity is a movement within the Church consisting of Christians who profess and affirm the ongoing validity and applicability of the Torah (ie. The Law of Moses), in addition to the authority of the entire Old and New Testaments. What this means is that Pronomian Christians are Christians who affirm orthodox Christian doctrines such as trinitarianism, the 66-book Christian canon, salvation by Christ alone apart from works, and many more, as well affirming the validity of the commandments contained within the Torah that many Catholics and Protestants deny. The First Pronomian Statement is upheld by Pronomian Christians as a means of affirming these beliefs.
The term pronomia is the antithesis of the term anomia (ἀνομία): lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin. The term ἀνομία is a combination of the Greek prefix α (against; negating) & νόμος (that which is assigned, usage, law). Linguistically, pronomia reflects “pro-law” in contrast to “anti-law” of ἀνομία.
Pronomian Christianity upholds that the entirety of God’s Law, as expressed in the Torah, is moral and remains applicable to the Christian life. This perspective challenges the traditional tripartite division of the law into ceremonial, civil, and moral categories, a division that Pronomian Christians see as a later theological construct rather than a biblical one. Instead, Pronomianism asserts that every commandment given by God carries moral weight because it originates from the moral character of God Himself (Deuteronomy 32:4), even though particular commandments are civil and/or ceremonial in nature.
This belief is rooted in the understanding that God is unchanging—His instructions are reflections of His nature, which is eternally holy, just, and good (James 1:17). Thus, the commandments delivered to Israel, including those often categorized as ‘ceremonial’ or ‘civil,’ are more than just ancient societal regulations or obsolete rituals; they are expressions of God’s will for how His people should live (Leviticus 19:2).
In the New Testament, Jesus’s affirmation of the Torah goes beyond a simple endorsement; He lives it out, interprets it, and deepens its application (Matthew 5:17-20). He does not discard the Law; instead, He offers its fullest expression. When He speaks against the Pharisees, it is not because they uphold the Law but because they do so hypocritically, neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23; Hosea 6:6).
Pronomianism takes seriously the Apostolic teaching that the Law is good if one uses it lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8). The Apostles, including Paul, continued to observe aspects of the Torah post-Christ (Acts 16:3; Acts 18:18; Acts 20:16; Acts 21:26), indicating that the Law’s role in guiding conduct was not abrogated by faith in Christ. Rather, the Law was to be understood in the light of Christ’s redemptive work, with the Holy Spirit enabling believers to walk according to God’s statutes and decrees (Romans 8:3-4).
The New Covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and inaugurated by Christ, transforms the relationship between God’s people and the Law. It does not abolish the Law but rather embeds it more deeply within the believer’s being. The Law inscribed upon the heart signifies a profound internal commitment to the statutes of God, a Law that remains consistent even as the context of its observance evolves (Hebrews 8:10).
When the Apostle Paul participated in temple sacrifices post-Calvary (as described in Acts 21:26), it was not to supersede or replicate Christ’s atoning death, but rather to honor the truth it represented. The sacrifices of the temple continued to serve as a meaningful connection to the history of God’s redemptive work, one that culminated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-14).
The transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant does not render the Torah’s teachings obsolete; instead, they are fulfilled and magnified in Christ. The principles of the Law, including the understanding of sacrifice, are reinterpreted in the light of His ultimate sacrifice. This does not diminish their value but instead provides a richer understanding that continues to point back to the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ’s work on the cross (Hebrews 9:12-14).
Through Christ’s atonement, the ceremonial aspects of the Law are transcended, as the global community of believers, comprised of people from every nation, is called to live out the moral imperatives of the Torah with a renewed perspective (Galatians 3:28). In this way, the New Covenant invites us to engage with the Law not as a means of salvation but as an expression of a life transformed by the grace and lordship of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:14).
Pronomian Christianity contends that obedience to the Law is not salvific—it is not the means by which we are saved. Salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, the Law is instructive for living a life that is pleasing to God. It functions as a guide, a tutor, and a light on the path of righteousness for those who are already in a covenant relationship with God through Christ (Psalm 119:105). The Law is not a yoke of slavery but a direction for the liberated—a way to love God and neighbor effectively and sincerely (John 13:34-35).
This perspective invites a reevaluation of commonly held beliefs about the Law’s relevance for Christians today. It calls for a consistent and comprehensive approach to Scripture, recognizing that every commandment, be it about loving one’s neighbor or keeping the Sabbath, flows from the same divine source and carries moral implications (1 John 5:3).
In conclusion, the strength of Pronomianism is anchored in the truth that God’s Law, as written in the Torah, is not a transient set of ordinances but the objective moral standard for the universe. Through the Holy Spirit, this Law is internalized in the believer, signifying not merely an adherence to rules but a profound union with God’s own heart (2 Corinthians 3:3). The Torah becomes the means by which we genuinely know God, as His just, merciful, and faithful nature is revealed in His commandments. It is in this internalization of the Law that we see the fullness of God’s grace and truth manifested in Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Thus, Pronomianism calls believers to a deeper covenant fidelity, where the Law is not a burden but the very expression of God’s love, a guiding light given to His people to walk in His ways (Micah 6:8).
