Open AccessInterrelation between Law and Gospel in the system of social-ethic doctrine of the Polish Brethren
Author(s) -
Konstantin Konoplyanko
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
vestnik slavânskih kulʹtur
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2073-9567
DOI - 10.37816/2073-9567-2021-62-72-86
Subject(s) - gospel , doctrine , magistrate , law , german , order (exchange) , philosophy , religious studies , political science , sociology , theology , linguistics , finance , economics
This paper explores the issue of correlation between the Law and the Gospel in the controversy of Polish brethren on social-ethical topics. The debating sides built their argumentation on varying understanding of the Holy Scripture texts in the forming of moral codex of “the proper Christians”. The radical side was determined that the proper Christian cannot be a part of peccable social order, based on the violent standards of Old Testament’s Law (Dekalog). The other, conservative one, believed that the Old Testament’s Law was not canceled by the Gospel, but was conversely fulfilled and explained by the Christ. Therefore, the proper Christian does have place in the actual social life, and also can be a magistrate, judge or soldier. The polemic between Polish brethren is based on intellectual heritage of West-European Reformation. It was inspired by the reception of anabaptism and its theological doctrine of non-resistance and “isolation from evil”. The religious arguments of the sides may be considered as a repercussion of antinomian controversy (at one time initiated by German reformers Ph. Melanchthon and J. Agricola).