The Law of Love
As taught in the Anglican / Episcopal tradition
The Ten Commandments and the Summary of the Law as the basis for moral decision making.
In the Anglican tradition, the fundamental question concerning Christian ethics is not merely "What must I do?" but rather "In whose image am I being formed?" The subtopic of "The Law of Love" addresses the vital intersection between the ancient moral requirements of the Decalogue and the radical, self-giving love exemplified by Jesus Christ. To the Anglican mind, ethics is not a separate department of life consisting of dry legalisms; it is the "Life of Holiness" made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This study explores how the Anglican "Via Media" (Middle Way) navigates the relationship between law and grace, moving beyond a simple "rules-based" morality to an "order-of-love" morality that seeks the flourishing of the whole person in communion with God and neighbour.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the historical and scriptural foundations of the Law of Love within the Anglican tradition.
- **Distinguish** between the "Moral Law" of the Decalogue and the "Ceremonial Law" as articulated in the *Thirty-Nine Articles*.
- **Explain** the liturgical significance of the "Summary of the Law" in the Book of Common Prayer.
- **Articulate** how the Anglican "Via Media" balances the tension between law and grace in ethical decision-making.
- **Trace** the development of Anglican ethics from Richard Hooker’s natural law to modern interpretations by Oliver O’Donovan.
- **Defend** the necessity of the "New Commandment" (John 13:34) as the interpretive key for the entire Old Testament moral code.
- **Apply** the principles of the Law of Love to contemporary issues of reconciliation, social justice, and personal piety.
- **Compare** the Anglican view of the Law’s "Third Use" (guiding the believer) with other Protestant and Catholic perspectives.
Scripture
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