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What is the Law of Christ?

by | Oct 24, 2019 | Jesus, Questions

The Law of Christ is found in Scripture. In Galatians 6:2, it says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the Law of Christ.”  But, the Bible does not tell us exactly what the Law of Christ is. Nevertheless, there are two possible answers. The first is that the Law of Christ refers to the new commandment that Jesus gave to us, that we love one another (John 13:34; 15:12).

  • John 13:34–35, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
  • John 15:12, This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”

The second position is that the Law of Christ is his declaration that the two greatest commandments were to love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). In this second possibility, Christ cites two Old Testament verses in response to a question from a lawyer who asked him, “which is the great commandment in the Law? (Matthew 22:36).

  • Matthew 22:37–40, “And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

 

The phrase “Law of Christ” in the Greek is τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ: τὸν (the) νόμον (law) τοῦ (of the) Χριστοῦ (of Christ). It occurs only in Gal. 6:2 in that form.  In 1 Cor. 9:21, the Greek says, ἔννομος Χριστοῦ: ἔννομος (under) Χριστοῦ (of Christ).  The word “law” is not there in that phrase, but it occurs earlier in the verse which is why it is translated as “the Law of Christ” in the English.

  • Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the Law of Christ.”
  • 1 Corinthians 9:21, “to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the Law of God but under the Law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.”

The context of Galatians 6:2

When we look at the book of Galatians we find that the word “law” occurs 32 times in the Greek and is used in different contexts.  Following is a list of every occurrence. Please note that some verses use the word law more than once.

We are not justified by the works of the Law, (Gal. 2:16).

  1. Dying to the Law, (Gal. 2:19).
  2. Righteousness is not by the Law, (Gal. 2:21; 3:21).
  3. The Spirit is received by faith, not the Law, (Gal. 3:2, 5).
  4. To be under the Law is to be under a curse, (Gal. 3:10-13).
  5. The Law of Moses, (Gal. 3:17).
  6. Inheritance is by God’s promise, not the Law, (Gal. 3:18).
  7. The Law was added because of transgressions, (Gal. 3:19).
  8. The Law did not reveal faith, (Gal. 3:23).
  9. The Law leads us to Christ, (Gal. 3:24).
  10. Jesus was born under the Law, (Gal. 4:4).
  11. Jesus redeems those who are under the Law, (Gal. 4:5).
  12. Do those under the Law listen to the Law, (Gal. 4:21).
  13. Those circumcise must keep the whole Law, (Gal. 5:3).
  14. To be justified by the Law is to be severed from Christ, (Gal. 5:4).
  15. The Law is fulfilled in loving your neighbor, (Gal. 5:14).
  16. If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the Law, (Gal. 5:18).
  17. There is no law against the fruit of the spirit, (Gal. 5:22-23).
  18. Bear each other’s burdens and fulfill the Law of Christ, (Gal. 6:2).
  19. The Judaizers don’t keep the Law, (Gal. 6:13).

Conclusion

Since the phrase “law of Christ” occurs only once in the Bible in Galatians 6:2, we can see from the use of the word ‘law’ in that epistle (aside from 6:2), they are in reference to the Law of Moses that brings a curse, and cannot give us righteousness, etc. Also, we notice that Jesus gave a new commandment that we love one another (John 13:34; 15:12). He also said that the greatest of the commandments of the Old Testament is to love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Therefore I think it is safe to say that the law of Christ can be summarized as being the love of God, the love of our neighbor, and the love for one another.

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