Related Prior Studies¶

Studies Referencing James' Law Passages¶

E29: "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein...this man shall be blessed in his deed." James then cites the 6th and 7th commandments (2:11). (Jas 1:25; 2:10-12) -- Continues
James 1:25 cited under "C5. Perfect" as an attribute of the moral law
James 2:8-12 cited under "D4. Law as Standard of Judgment"
Law-attribute parallel: "Perfect" in Jas 1:25 corresponds to "perfect" in Psa 19:7 and God's character in Mat 5:48; Deu 32:4

Analysis of "James 1:25; 2:8-12 (Royal Law / Law of Liberty)" as a case study
James calls the law "the perfect law of liberty" (1:25) and "the royal law" (2:8)
James identifies the law's content by quoting Decalogue commands (7th and 6th commandments in 2:11)
Hebrew law terms describe FORMAL CHARACTER (instruction, command, decree, judgment, testimony), NOT moral categories
Torah->nomos and mitsvah->entole are stable LXX mappings

E20: "'The perfect law of liberty...judged by the law of liberty.' James cites 6th and 7th commandments (2:11) as part of this continuing law." (Jas 1:25; 2:10-12) -- Continues
James passage cited as new covenant evidence: the "law of liberty" is the moral law internalized
New covenant changes WHERE the law is located (stone to hearts), HOW obedience is achieved (human effort to Spirit), but not WHAT law is in force

E27: "James identifies the 'royal law' and 'law of liberty' with Decalogue content: 'Do not commit adultery' (7th) and 'Do not kill' (6th) are cited as the specific content of the law of liberty." (Jas 2:8-12) -- Continues
James' usage of articular nomos for "the perfect law of liberty" (1:25) and "the royal law" (2:8) catalogued
Jas 1:25 and 2:8-12 listed under "Affirming/Continuing Passages"

Non-Pauline nomos usage: James uses "perfect law of liberty" (1:25), "royal law" (2:8), "law of liberty" (2:12)
These are among the most descriptive designations for "the law" in the entire NT
Articular, definitive usage

G1657 eleutheria ("liberty/freedom"): appears in Rom 8:21; 2 Cor 3:17; Gal 2:4; 5:1; 5:13; Jas 1:25; 2:12; 1 Pet 2:16; 2 Pet 2:19
In Galatians, eleutheria appears 3 times (2:4; 5:1; 5:13), all in context of freedom from bondage
"Liberty" language connects James' "law of liberty" to broader NT theology of freedom in Christ

E029 (Master): Jas 1:25; 2:10-12 -- "Perfect law of liberty...judged by the law of liberty" with Decalogue citations (Continues) -- In: law-01, law-10
E027 (law-21): Jas 2:8-12 -- James identifies "royal law" and "law of liberty" with Decalogue content (Continues)

E010: Rom 7:12 -- "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good" (Continues)
E025: Rom 3:31 -- "Do we make void the law? God forbid: we establish the law" (Continues)
E028: Rom 13:8-10 -- Paul quotes five Decalogue commands as the content love fulfills (Continues)
E143: 1 Cor 7:19 -- "Circumcision is nothing...keeping commandments of God" (Continues)
E030: 1Jn 5:3 -- "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments" (Continues)

N018: Dogma (G1378) is never used for the Decalogue in any NT passage (Continues)
N054: Love is explicitly defined as commandment-keeping in both 1 John 5:3 and Rom 13:8-10 (Continues)

law-21-nt-vocab-law-categories (0.437)
law-14-jesus-law-teachings (0.426)
law-of-moses (0.422)
law-07-law-of-moses (0.404)
law-20-nt-greek-law-vocabulary (0.402)
law-01-gods-moral-law (0.390)
sabbath-moral-or-ceremonial (0.368)
law-03-exodus-20-vs-later-laws (0.365)
law-17-paul-and-law-in-galatians (0.364)
law-10-new-covenant-and-law (0.363)