Resources on the Law/Gospel Distinction

There’s been some discussion at the Puritanboard about the distinction between law and gospel. It seems like it might be a good time for a refresher course. Here are some resources on the classical Reformed approach to this question.

  1. Letter and Spirit: Law and Gospel in Reformed Preaching,” in R. Scott Clark, ed. Covenant, Justification and Pastoral Ministry: Essays by the Faculty of Westminster Seminary California (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2006), 331-63. Also available on iTunes.
  2. “Law and Gospel in Early Reformed Orthodoxy: Hermeneutical Conservatism in Olevianus’ Commentary on Romans,” in Jordan J. Ballor, David S. Sytsma and Jason Zuidema editors, Church and School in Early Modern Protestantism: Studies in Honor of Richard A. Muller on the Maturation of a Theological Tradition (Leiden: Brill, 2013).
  3. Heidelminicast: Is The Distinction Between Law And Gospel Something To Use Only Sometimes?
  4. Perkins On Paul’s Distinction Between Law And Gospel In Galatians
  5. Luther On What Galatians 2:21 Teaches About Law And Gospel
  6. Owen: Law and Gospel
  7. Heidelminicast: The Marrow On The Distinction Between The Law And The Gospel
  8. Heidelminicast: Calvin Distinguished Law And Gospel To Preserve The Truth Of The Gospel
  9. The Distinction Between Law And Gospel Emerged From Augustine’s Struggle With Pelagius
  10. William Eyre: Failure To Distinguish Law And Gospel Lets In Innumerable Errors
  11. Haldane: Romans 2:13 Is Law, Not Gospel
  12. Audio: The Canons Of Dort On Law And Gospel
  13. Colquhoun: Every Passage Of Scripture Is Either Law Or Gospel
  14. Mike Abendroth, My Pilgrimage From “Lordship” to Law/Gospel (part 1)
  15. Mike Abendroth, My Pilgrimage From “Lordship” to Law/Gospel (part 2): Test Case—The Rich Young Ruler
  16. Mike Abendroth, My Pilgrimage From “Lordship” to Law/Gospel (part 3): Assurance
  17. Hermeneutics Matter: Law And Gospel In Luke 18:18–30
  18. They Turned The Covenant Of Grace Into A Covenant Of Works (Or Why The Distinction Between Law And Gospel Matters)
  19. The Synopsis Of Purer Theology On The Law And The Gospel
  20. Colquhoun: Ignorance Of The Difference Between Law And Gospel Leads To Self-Righteousness
  21. Perkins: The Law Promises Salvation On The Basis And Through Obedience. The Gospel Promises Salvation On The Basis Of Christ’s Obedience And Through Faith Alone
  22. Bavinck Distinguished Law And Gospel
  23. R. Scott Clark, When the Good News Becomes Bad
  24. R. Scott Clark, Yes, Virginia, There Is A Distinction Between Law and Gospel
  25. Is Faith a Work?
  26. Law and Gospel and the Third Use of the Law
  27. Why Do Some Reformed People Corrupt the Gospel of Grace?
  28. Ursinus on Law and Gospel
  29. Does OT = Law and NT = Gospel?
  30. Is the Law/Gospel Distinction Only Lutheran?
  31. The Indicative and the Imperative
  32. Is the Gospel Preached or Lived?
  33. Caspar Olevianus on Retaining the Law/Gospel Distinction
  34. Classic Reformed Theology on the Law/Gospel Distinction
  35. Perkins: By Nature We Seek To Contribute To Our Salvation But The Gospel….
  36. The Threefold Distinction In the Law Is Basic Reformed Theology
  37. Beza: We divide this word into two principal parts
  38. Heidelcast Minute: The Federal Visionists Deny The Protestant Distinction Between Law And Gospel
  39. Conference Audio: Law, Gospel, And Galawspel
  40. Luther On What Makes A Real Theologian
  41. William Gurnall: Threats Are The Native Language Of The Law
  42. With NoCo Radio On Reformation 101: Law And Gospel
  43. Heidelcast 141: Calls On Law and Gospel, Baptism, Covenant Theology, Repentance, Justification, Sanctification, Taco Bell, And More!
  44. Are Believers Under The Law As A Schoolmaster?
  45. What Social Media Teaches Us About Law, Gospel, Forgiveness, And Grace
  46. Dathenus: Would You Make Christ Another Moses Again?
  47. The Synod Of Dort On The Difference Between Law And Gospel
  48. Concerns About The Rhetoric: “X Is A Gospel Issue”
  49. Calvin: Paul Distinguishes Between Law And Gospel
  50. Olevianus On The Distinction Between Law And Gospel
  51. Thomas Manton On Law And Gospel
  52. With No Compromise Radio On Law And Gospel
  53. Preaching As For The Free
  54. Luther On The Difference Between Law And Gospel
  55. Luther’s Test: Are You A Christian?
  56. Thomas Boston: How And Why To Distinguish Between Law And Gospel
  57. The Author Of The Belgic Confession On Law And Gospel
  58. Mr Murray Distinguishes Law And Gospel
  59. The Way Calvin Read The Ten Commandments May Not Be The Way You Are Used To Reading The Ten Commandments (But It Should Be)
  60. Heidelblog library on the distinction between law and gospel
  61. The Attraction Of Legal Preaching
  62. Abounding Grace Radio On The Attraction Of Legal Preaching
  63. The Attraction Of Legal Preaching: The Interview
  64. Wengert, Timothy J. Law and Gospel : Philip Melanchthon’s Debate with John Agricola of Eisleben Over Poenitentia. Texts and Studies in Reformation and Post-Reformation Thought. Carlisle, Cumbria, U.K.: Paternoster, 1997.
  65. Linebaugh, Jonathan A, ed. God’s Two Words : Law and Gospel in the Lutheran and Reformed Traditions. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018.
  66. Colquhoun, John,  A Treatise on the Law and the Gospel. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2024.
  67. Fisher, Edward, and Thomas Boston. The Marrow of Modern Divinity. Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 2009.
  68. Heidelcast Series: Nomism And Antinomianism
  69. Hermeneutics Matter: Law And Gospel In Luke 18:18–30
  70. They Turned The Covenant Of Grace Into A Covenant Of Works (Or Why The Distinction Between Law And Gospel Matters)
  71. With The RenewalCast On Distinguishing Law And Gospel
  72. Perkins: Rome Confuses Law And Gospel
  73. Colquhoun: Ignorance Of The Difference Between Law And Gospel Leads To Self-Righteousness
  74. Bavinck Distinguished Law And Gospel
  75. Olevianus: The Reformed Retain The Distinction Between Law And Gospel
  76. Ebenezer Erskine On The Distinction Between Law And Gospel
  77. Heidelcast Minute: The Federal Visionists Deny The Protestant Distinction Between Law And Gospel
  78. Canons Of Dort (27): The Reformed Distinguish Law And Gospel

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