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The Apostle John said many times that we
are to keep the commandments (John 12; 14; 15; 1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 3:22-24; 1 John 4:21; 5:2-3; 2 John 1:4-5; 2 John 1:6; Revelation 12:17; 14:12;
also: Revelation 22:14), but what
exactly does he mean by commandments?
When John is speaking
about the Old Covenant law he used the Greek word “nomos”
exclusively (John 1:17, 45; 7:19). Some of
the other Bible authors do on occasion use
entolē to refer to the law but John never
does!
John used “entolē” in
Revelation 12:17; 14:12 and Revelation 22:14
to refer to the commandments of God. John
always used the Greek word entolē to mean a
“moral and religious precept,
regulation or command”. John never said that we have to
keep the Ten Commandments from the Old
Covenant to be saved under the New Covenant.
We are told to keep the “precepts”,
“commands” and “regulations” of God under
the terms of the New Covenant. Each covenant
has its own legal code and Christians are told to live by the
commands and teachings of the New Covenant.
Word Study
Below!
Greek Words for Law - entolē &
nomos
(AMG’s Comprehensive Dictionary of
New Testament Words: entolē & nomos)
entolē [fem. noun:
ἐντολή
<G1785>]; from entellō: to command, which is from en: in, and
tellō: to
accomplish, to produce
► Ordinance, moral and
religious precept; also transl.: command, law, order, precept, regulation >
References are often made in the N.T. to the
commandments of God transmitted to Moses (Matthew 5:19; 15:3, 6; 19:17; 22:36, 38, 40; Mark 7:8, 9; 10:5, 19; 12:28-31; Luke 1:6; 18:20; 23:56; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Ephesians 2:15; 6:2; Hebrews 7:5, 16, 18; 9:19; Revelation 12:17; 14:12).
The Father gave Jesus a
commandment, what He should say and what He should speak (John 12:49).
Jesus has given a new commandment,
that we love one another (John 13:34), as He has loved us (John 15:12). He
speaks of keeping His commandments (John 14:15, 21; 15:10 a), as He has kept
His Father’s commandment (John 15:10 b).
Peter refers to the commandment of
the apostles of the Lord (2 Peter 3:2); some mss. have: the commandment of
the Lord by the apostles.
In his epistles, John speaks of
keeping the commandments of God (1 John 2:3, 4; 3:22, 23, 24; 4:21; 5:2, 3;
2 John 4-5) and walking in them (2 John 6).
Other refs.: Luke 15:29; John 10:18; 12:50; Romans 7:8-13; 13:9; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Timothy 6:14; Titus 1:14;
2 Pet. 2:21; 1 John 2:7-8; Revelation 22:14 in some mss.
Other refs.: John 11:57; Acts 17:15;
Colossians 4:10; see COMMAND (noun) <G1785>.
nomos [masc. noun:
νόμος <G3551>]; from nemō: to distribute: Rules that allow, restrict, or
prohibit individual and institutional behavior > The term describes a law in
general (Romans 4:15; 5:13).
Most frequently, it describes the divine
law given through Moses, whether it be moral, ceremonial, or judicial (Matthew 5:17, 18; 7:12; 23:23; Luke 2:22; John 7:51; 8:5).
Sometimes it means the books of Moses or
the Pentateuch containing the law (Luke 24:44; 1 Corinthians 14:21).
The gospel method of justification is
called the “law of faith,” the opposite of the “law of works” (Romans 3:27).
The “law of the Spirit of life” is the opposite of the law of
sin and death (Romans 8:2).
In James we find the “royal law” (James 2:8). The “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:12) frees Christians from the yoke of
ceremonial observances and from the slavery of sin; it is opposed to the
Mosaic Law which made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19; 10:1).
The term also describes a force or
principle of action which is equivalent to a law (Romans 7:21, 23, 25; 8:2). (After S. Zodhiates.)
(AMG’s Comprehensive Dictionary of New
Testament Words)
One final note about the words “nomos” and “entolē”.
When John speaks about the Law he uses the Greek word “nomos” exclusively.
John used “entolē” in Revelation 12:17; 14:12
and Revelation 22:14 to refer to the
commandments of God. John uses the Greek word entolē to always mean
“ordinance, moral and religious precept or regulation.” John never said that
we have to keep the Ten Commandments to be saved under the New Covenant. We
are to keep the “precepts”, “commands” and “regulations” of God under the
terms of the New Covenant. Each covenant has its own legal structure and all
Christians are to live by the “Law of Christ” under the New “Better”
Covenant.
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