Draft:Pronomianism

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Pronomianism (Ancient Greek: πρό [pro] "for" and νόμος [nomos] "law") is a view that the Mosaic law is just as valid for Christians today as it was during the lifetime of Jesus Christ.{{Cite web |last=Ensley |first=Joshua |date=January 6, 2021 |title=What Is Pronomian Christianity? |url=https://joshuaensley.org/2021/01/06/what-is-pronomian-theology/ |access-date=May 3, 2025 |website=Joshua Ensley |language=en-US}} Its proponents view it as a "theological interpretation," rather than a denomination.{{Cite web |last=Szumskyj |first=Benjamin |date=May 22, 2024 |title=The Role of the Law in the Sanctification of the Believer Today: A Brief Introduction to Pronomianism |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6538&context=doctoral |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Liberty University {{!}} Scholars Crossing |page=74}} The term's purpose is to serve as the antithesis of antinomianism.

Theonomic Origins

The invention of the word "pronomian" is attributed to Greg L. Bahnsen{{Cite web |last=Hegg |first=Caleb |date=June 24, 2024 |title=What is "Pronomian" |url=https://pronomian.com/what-is-pronomian-2/ |access-date=April 19, 2025 |website=Pronomian.com |language=en-US}}, who began his book, By This Standard: The Authority of God's Law Today, by stating:

A large variety of positions have been taken regarding God’s law stretching all the way from saying that there have been no changes in how the law should be observed (so that, for instance, animal sacrifices would be continued) to saying that everything has been changed because of the change of dispensation (so that the Christian ethic is totally restricted to the New Testament). Between the two extreme poles numerous other positions or attitudes (some pro-nomian, some antinomian) can be found with subtle variations distinguishing one school of thought from another in many cases.{{Cite book |last=Bahnsen |first=Greg L. |title=By This Standard: The Authority of God's Law Today |date=January 1, 2008 |publisher=American Vision/Covenant Media Press |year= |isbn=978-0915815845 |pages=1}}

Bahnsen believed in a tripartite division of the Torah's functions, these different facets being moral, civil, and ceremonial. In his view, while the ceremonial aspects of the Torah no longer apply today, its moral and civil aspects still do. He was one of the key founders of Christian reconstructionism, a movement that started in the 1970s, but it has been argued that numerous classical Reformed theologians like John Calvin, Martin Bucer, and John Cotton agreed with Bahnsen's conclusions.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ralph Allan |date=May 23–24, 1994 |title=Calvin's Covenantal Pronomianism |url=https://www.berith.org/pdf/Calvin's_Covenantal_Pronomianism.pdf |access-date=April 28, 2025 |website=Berith |pages=4–7}} Both By This Standard and Bahnsen's larger work, Theonomy in Christian Ethics, have been instrumental in the formulation of the modern Theonomy movement. R. J. Rushdoony added additional arguments for the ongoing validity of the Torah in The Institutes of Biblical Law, although neither he nor any Christian Reconstructionist writer other than Bahnsen is recorded as having ever identified as a pronomian.

Evolution of the Term

After Bahnsen's death in 1995, the word "pronomian" went out of usage in academia. In the early 2020s, however, an offshoot of the Hebrew Roots movement began taking shape by the name of "Pronomian Christianity." It is made up of various Christian scholars who strive to keep all of the Mosaic Law's commands with the exception of animal sacrifices. This includes observing the Old Testament feast days, the Sabbath on Saturday, and the Levitical dietary laws. Members of this movement disagree with Bahnsen's tripartite division concept, believing that it is not supported by Scripture.{{Cite book |last=McKenzie |first=Gregory Scott |url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tCAtEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=%22Pronomianism%22&ots=SU2mjWApR6&sig=R0V5NQE5UxqSzsYlzDvcwfmQUQk#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=Walking Orderly, Keeping the Law: A Pronomian Pocket Guide to Acts 21:20-26 |date=October 29, 2024 |publisher=Pronomian Publishing |year= |isbn=979-8990863019 |pages=115–27}} Some pronomian Christians subscribe to theonomy,{{Cite web |last=Hegg |first=Caleb |date=September 20, 2022 |title=A Shift in Theology: A Case for Theonomy |url=https://pronomian.com/a-shift-in-theology-a-case-for-theonomy/ |access-date=May 3, 2025 |website=Pronomian.com |language=en-US}} but others oppose it.{{Cite web |last=McKenzie |first=Gregory Scott |date=March 16, 2025 |title='Render unto Caesar' is not a political philosophy. |url=https://x.com/ThePronomian/status/1901369476467061032 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/KVR1W |archive-date=April 16, 2025 |access-date=May 3, 2025 |website=X}}

Pronomian Christians do not identify with the Hebrew Roots movement because they view it as an anti-intellectual group of believers who overly focus on trivial issues, e.g. the Apocrypha and various conspiracy theories like Flat Earth.{{Cite web |last=Himango |first=Judah Gabriel |year=2021 |title=Pronomian Christianity: An Alternative To Hebrew Roots and Messianic Judaism? |url=https://blog.judahgabriel.com/2021/11/pronomian-christianity-alternative-to.html |access-date=May 3, 2025 |website=Kineti L'Tziyon}} They also do not identify with Messianic Judaism as they do not believe that the sect is inclusive enough of Gentiles.{{Cite web |last=Szumskyj |first=Benjamin |date=April 3, 2024 |title=The Role of the Law in the Sanctification of the Believer Today: A Brief Introduction to Pronomianism |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6538&context=doctoral |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Liberty University {{!}} Scholars Crossing |pages=53–54}} Instead, they "keep Evangelical worship practices and the ecclesiastical organization of the various Christian denominations (Reformed, Methodist, Baptist, etc.), but do not follow some of the more traditional synagogue practices."{{Cite web |last=McKenzie |first=Gregory Scott |date=May 25, 2024 |title=Pronomian Paradigm: A Pro-Torah, Christocentric Method of Theology and Apologetics |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6682&context=doctoral |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Liberty University {{!}} Scholars Crossing |page=24}}

Theology

= First Pronomian Statement =

In 2022, [https://joshuaensley.org/ Joshua Ensley] released the Rock Hill Statement, which was later renamed the First Pronomian Statement. Its purpose was to unify the pronomian movement in a system of doctrinal coherence.{{Cite web |last=Szumskyj |first=Benjamin |date=April 3, 2024 |title=The Role of the Law in the Sanctification of the Believer Today: A Brief Introduction to Pronomianism |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6538&context=doctoral |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Liberty University {{!}} Scholars Crossing |page=58}} Its ten articles are summarized as follows:{{Cite web |last=Ensley |first=Joshua |year=2022 |title=The First Pronomian Statement - Affirming God's Torah |url=https://firstpronomianstatement.com/ |access-date=May 4, 2025 |website=First Pronomian Statement |language=en-US}}

Strict adherence to the 66 book Protestant canon
Affirmation of both monotheism and the Trinity
Jesus Christ being both the Messiah and the second person of the Trinity
Humanity being created in God's image under original sin
Salvation being attained through faith alone
God's law is eternal and should be followed rather than ignored
The Sabbath has not been abolished or moved from its original date of Saturday
The purpose of the Church is to convert unbelievers and then teach them the commandments of God.
Condemnation of homosexual and polygamous relationships
God does not have to be called by His "true name"

= Thirteen Principles of Pronomian Faith =

Benjamin Szumskyj wrote in his 2024 Liberty University Ph.D dissertation, [https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6538&context=doctoral "The Role of the Law in the Sanctification of the Believer Today: A Brief Introduction to Pronomianism,"] that "Ensley believes that Pronomians are those that sign [the First Pronomian] statement (capital 'P'), while those who observe the Law but do not sign the statement... are pronomians (little 'p')." Disagreeing with Ensley's way of distinguishing pronomianism from other theologies, Szumskyj wrote out his own statement of faith for the movement. Titled, "The Thirteen Principles of Pronomian Faith," the titles of its parts are:{{Cite web |last=Szumskyj |first=Benjamin |date=April 3, 2024 |title=The Role of the Law in the Sanctification of the Believer Today: A Brief Introduction to Pronomianism |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6538&context=doctoral |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=Liberty University {{!}} Scholars Crossing |pages=74-114}}

Pronomianism Affirms the Five Solae and Tota Scriptura
Pronomianism Affirms the Unity of the Bible
Pronomianism Correctly Identifies Three Definitions of Torah
Pronomianism Acknowledges that Jesus and His Disciples never Broke the Laws in the Torah, only Its Rabbinical Interpretation
The Laws in the Torah Are Intended for Both the Redeemed Jew and Gentile
Pronomianism Affirms that the Laws in the Torah Are a Means of Sanctification for Redeemed Jews and Gentiles
Pronomianism Is Zealous for Good Works
Pronomianism Teaches both a Literal and Non-Literal Application of the Laws in the Torah
Pronomianism Teaches against Anti-Judaism
Romans 10:4 Speaks of the Goal of the Law, not Its End
Pronomianism upholds Biblical Patriarchy
Pronomianism does not Uphold Continuationism and Charismatic Practices
Pronomianism Is Intentionally Scholarly and Seeks to Bridge the Gap between the Church Pulpit and the Seminarian Lectern

Caleb Hegg writes concerning this system: "It should be noted that two of these principles (numbers 11 and 12) have been debated among those who claim to hold to pronomian theology, yet these principles are largely held by the majority of pronomian advocates."

= Other doctrines =

Pronomian Christians do not believe that the Mosaic Law was first created at Mount Sinai. Rather, they believe that it was merely written down there, but was orally delivered to biblical figures like Job and Abraham beforehand. They use passages like Genesis 26:5, Job 23:12, and Romans 5:12-14 when used in conjunction with 1 John 3:4 to justify this conclusion.{{Cite web |last=Szumskyj |first=Benjamin |date=April 3, 2024 |title=The Role of the Law in the Sanctification of the Believer Today: A Brief Introduction to Pronomianism |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6538&context=doctoral |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Liberty University {{!}} Scholars Crossing |pages=277-289}}

A premillennial eschatology is generally held by pronomians, as they use passages that speak of the millennial reign of Christ to show that the Torah will be observed by Christians in the end times.{{Cite web |last=Szumskyj |first=Benjamin |date=April 3, 2024 |title=The Role of the Law in the Sanctification of the Believer Today: A Brief Introduction to Pronomianism |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6538&context=doctoral |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Liberty University {{!}} Scholars Crossing |pages=308-332}}

Gregory Scott McKenzie, a pronomian theologian who holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Liberty University, postulates that the Euthyphro dilemma can only be considered a false dilemma if the Christian speaker believes in the eternal continuity of the Torah.{{Cite journal |last=McKenzie |first=Gregory Scott |date=December 2021 |title=In the Wake of Euthyphro's False Dilemma |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1198&context=eleu |journal=Eleutheria: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal |volume=5 |issue=2 |via=}}

Criticism

Pronomian Christianity essentially faces the same theological criticisms as the Hebrew Roots Movement. Opponents of the theological system believe - based on Bible passages like Galatians 3:23-25, Ephesians 2:15, and Hebrews 7:12 - that Jesus "fulfilled" the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) through His death on the cross, thus abolishing humanity's obligation to follow the Torah's regulations.Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law? (n.d.). GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-law.html{{Cite web |last=Solberg |first=R. L. |date=May 24, 2023 |title=Matt. 5:17–20 - Four Contexts |url=https://rlsolberg.com/matt-517-20-four-contexts/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=R. L. Solberg |language=en}} For this reason, some Christians believe that those who strive to keep them are being "quite offensive to Christ."{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4eePZIbCCc |title=Christians Don’t Celebrate Passover |date=April 16, 2025 |last=Right Response Ministries |minutes=3 |access-date=May 6, 2025 |via=YouTube}} Pronomians respond to this criticism by claiming that Christ "confirmed" the Torah rather than abolishing it, citing passages like Matthew 5:17-20 and Romans 3:31 to support their interpretation.{{Cite web |last=Wilber |first=David |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Jesus Fulfilled the Torah: What Does That Mean? |url=https://davidwilber.com/articles/jesus-fulfilled-the-torah-what-does-that-mean |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=David Wilber |language=en-US}}

Professor [https://rlsolberg.com/ R.L. Solberg] is one of the most prominent critics of pronomianism, aiming to rebut its proponents' arguments in a scholarly, professional fashion.{{Cite book |last=Solberg |first=R.L. |title=Torahism: Are Christians Required to Keep the Law of Moses? |date=June 13, 2022 |publisher=Williamson College Press |isbn=978-1733672153}} [https://davidwilber.com/ David Wilber] has responded to Solberg's criticisms extensively{{Cite book |last=Wilber |first=David |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/How_Jesus_Fulfilled_the_Law/_ekYEQAAQBAJ |title=How Jesus Fulfilled the Law: A Pronomian Pocket Guide to Matthew 5:17-20 |date=June 14, 2024 |publisher=Pronomian Publishing |isbn=979-8-9908630-0-2 |pages=51-74}} and has accused him of misrepresentation.{{Cite web |last=Wilber |first=David |date=June 17, 2022 |title=Addressing R. L. Solberg's Disappointing Mischaracterization of Me |url=https://davidwilber.com/articles/addressing-solbergs-disappointing-mischaracterization-of-me |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=David Wilber |language=en-US}}